Wheel Bug

Natural Habitat

Wheel bugs are commonly found in gardens, orchards, agricultural fields, wooded areas, and other places with abundant vegetation where their prey is present. They often reside on shrubs, trees, and tall herbaceous plants.

Diet & Feeding

The wheel bug is a predatory insect, feeding on a wide variety of other insects, including caterpillars, Japanese beetles, flies, true bugs (like stink bugs), and even other assassin bugs. They do not feed on plant sap or detritus.

Behavior Patterns

Wheel bugs are solitary predators. They move slowly and deliberately, often camouflaged among vegetation. They capture prey using their strong forelegs and then pierce the prey with their rostrum to inject digestive enzymes, liquefying the insides before sucking them out. They are known to emit a strong odor as a defense mechanism when disturbed.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Wheel bugs can deliver a painful bite if handled, though they are not aggressive towards humans. The bite is comparable to a bee sting, causing localized pain and swelling, but it is not venomous or medically significant. Benefits: They are highly beneficial insects in gardens and agricultural settings as they prey on many common insect pests, helping to control pest populations naturally and reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

Identified on: 8/7/2025