If you’re a gardening enthusiast, you might perceive insects as menacing creatures that destroy your beloved garden. However, the wheel bug, also known as the “assassin bug”, is one insect you might want to make an exception for. This distinct insect plays a significant role in controlling the population of harmful garden pests. Let’s delve into the world of this unique creature!
The Enigmatic Appearance of the Wheel Bug
Donning a greyish-black armor-like body and spanning merely about 1 ½ inches long, the wheel bug holds the title of the largest terrestrial bug in North America. Its most distinct feature is a wheel-shaped, notched semi-circle on its back, lending this creature its name: “Wheel Bug”.
Why is it referred to as the Assassin?
Not just a striking facade, the term “assassin” attributes to the bug’s efficient predatory behavior. It zeroes in on its prey with calculated precision. Moving at a somewhat maddeningly slow pace, the bug slowly stalks, attacks, and grasps its prey with its forelegs. Once the prey is caught, a hard beak is employed to pierce soft body parts, injecting a paralyzing solution via the bug’s saliva, leading to the victim’s speedy demise.
The Wheel Bug: An Incredible Ally in Pest Control
With a voracious appetite, the assassin bug is an invaluable ally in locations such as woodlands, orchards, and gardens. They favor pests including aphids and hairy caterpillars, both known for their destructive behavior towards plants.
Here’s why the wheel bug is a gardener’s friend:
- Aphids: These insects feed on a substantial variety of plants, causing damage and spreading diseases. Wheel bugs help control their population significantly.
- Hairy Caterpillars: Notorious for defoliating trees and bushes, these pests are also on the wheel bug’s menu.
Interestingly, you might not even realize that this silent protector is at work in your garden. Blend seamlessly with its surroundings due to its coloration and slow pace, the bug always remains difficult to spot. However, if threatened, the bug deploys a pungent scent via its reddish-orange scent sacs that’s difficult to ignore. Though not as potent as the common stink bug, it is enough to make one wrinkle his nose!
Cautions Around the Wheel Bug
While being an un-doubtful asset to gardeners, the wheel bug has a broad prey palette. After mating, the female bug might feed on her male counterpart. This insect can also cause discomfort to humans through a sting caused by their piercing beak. Although painful, the wound usually heals within a few weeks with appropriate care. Hence, it’s best to admire these bug warriors without direct interaction.
Despite some cautionary tales, the wheel bug’s value as a natural protector against destructive plant pests is still undisputed, making them a welcome sight in any garden or landscape.