Wheel bug nymph (assassin bug)

Gardens, woodland edges, orchards, and other vegetation across much of North America. It commonly rests on leaves and trunks while hunting.

A predatory true bug that pierces caterpillars, beetles, aphids, and other insects with its rostrum, then sucks out their fluids.

Nymphs pass through several wingless stages before becoming adults; the pictured individual is likely a late nymph. They ambush prey and may defend themselves with a painful bite if handled.

Highly beneficial as a natural pest-control predator, though it can bite people when restrained; the bite is painful but not medically dangerous for most individuals.