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Assassin
Bug: Internal Parasite Excitement and Authenticity Question
(resolved)
(01/17/2007) Bug found in Houston, Tx
My name is Codie I am 8 years old. I was playing outside,
then I went to a pecan tree stump and I found this bug, (photo
included). It has a orange thorax with black and white dots.
It looked like it had very small black wings. Its face looked
like it had a hook part that went all the way to it's neck
and it looked like it connected to the neck. The antenna were
very big. They were bigger than the 6 legs. It had 3 body
parts like an ant. It is an insect and the thorax was very
big when I found it. Then a few days later we found out why
the thorax was so big. It was because it had a baby. At first
even when I caught it we didn't know the bug and we didn't
know the name of the bug. When the baby was born it was white
and looked like a cacoon and creeped around like a catapiller.
When I put it in a smaller vile it started to turn red and
it got hard and I think it died. Also, the thorax deflated
on the mommy and had a hole in it where the baby came out.
We still don't know what it is. Do you know what this is?
Thank you,
Codiemichael and Mommy Kerr
Hi Codie,
The photo you sent is of an immature Assassin Bug. These insects,
like most insects, lay eggs and do not give birth. It is immature,
and cannot reproduce until it becomes a winged adult. The
action you describe sounds more like an internal parasite,
but we do not know of another insect that parasitizes Assassin
Bugs. It could be some type of fly or wasp that is responsible
for the parasitization. You never said if the insect in the
photograph died, though we suspect it did.
Love the site! But a request....
Your site and the service you kindly provide for free is wonderful.
I have to check the site everyday. Just one request though....please
don't post anymore emails where a parent writes in as their
child, complete with "baby" language and descriptions. It's
ignorant and annoying. It is one thing to relate a story involving
the child (which can be cute) but quite another to take on
the persona of the child. I admire your dedication to posting
and the research and time put into the answers. Keep up the
great work! You're inspiring a wave of, well, if not bug love,
at least bug appreciation.
-Shannon
Hi Shannon,
What's That Bug? has always been child friendly and we do
not really edit letters. We thought there were enough grammatical
errors and misspellings to indicate that this was written
by an 8 year old.
Thank you so much! Codie spends a lot of time on your site
and has a huge interest in everything you have on there. After
much searching and absolutely no luck, my son thought you
might have the answer. He was so thrilled to see that his
very first e-mail was published on your website too! (yes,
he is the one who sent it, I just proof read it to make sure
he included everything). Thanks for all your help.
Update: (01/20/2007) assassin bug parasite
I think your analysis is right on. Probably a tachinid fly,
but in any event, the host-parasite relationship might very
well be undocumented. If the kid can get the larva to pupate
(maybe in a container with a shallow layer of soil), he might
be able to get an adult he can take to an expert for an identification.
Keep me posted.
Eric
Immature Wheel Bug from parts unknown
(01/14/2007) Can you tell me what this is
Can you tell me what this is Overall diameter of insect in
pose as shown was very close to if not slightly larger than
the diameter of a quarter. It walked almost crab-like, and
was very visibly responsive to my movements...i.e. as I moved
the camera closer, it backed away and turned to face the incoming
camera in a very smooth defensive motion. It looks kind of
furry in the pictures, however up-close it had more of a crustacean-like
exoskeleton, very hard looking and clean. Feet looked very
pointed at first in person, but noticed in the pictures that
it has 'feet' at the bottom of the legs. Any ideas???
Vince Cannizzaro
Bay Stalker
Hi Vince,
We are relatively certain this is an immature Wheel Bug. Adults
have wings and a coglike "wheel" on the thorax. Judging by
the size, it will probably metamorphose into a winged adult
at the next molt. Wheel Bugs are Assassin Bugs. They are predators
that will also bite painfully if provoked.
Masked Bedbug Hunter
(12/23/2006) heres a challenge...
I keep finding these little buggers clinging on my white sneakers.
I can't find any refferance for them on the net and have looked
all over your site and came up with a big zero as well. Its
so unusual for a bug to be white, it just stands out to much.
Anyway I was curious to see if anyone there knew what this
bug is? It's covered in a white powdering that gives it a
bit of a fuzzy appearance, its about 1/4 of an inch long,
six legs and antennas. I live in northern Utah in an urban
setting and have no idea why these bugs keep apearing on my
shoes! Thank you for anything you can tell me,
Alex
Hi Alex,
Now that you know that this Assassin Bug is known as a Masked
Bedbug Hunter, you should be able to find plenty of information
online as well as on our site. These beneficial insects are
referred to as Masked since the sticky hairs on the body gather
dust, masking them from potential predators. We once got an
amazing blue Masked Bedbug Hunter since the contributor of
the photo had a blue carpet.
Assassin Bug and Ailanthus Webworm Moth
(12/13/2006) Very cool bugs... I am an avid gardener and I
have never seen one of these before!
Hi there,
Bug #1: I found this bug on an annual Vinca plant I had potted
on my back porch this past summer. It looks like he has sucking
mouth parts. My plant seemed to be okay after he was done
doing whatever it was he was doing. Bug#2: I spotted this
guy on the side of my house one night. He seemed to be drawn
towards the outdoor light. Sorry, the photo is not as good.
I have tried to do my own research many times and have not
had any luck. Have you ever typed "yellow bug" in
your search engine? Ha! Ha! At the rate I am going we will
all be extinct and it will not matter what the heck kind of
bug this is anyway! Ha! Ha! Ha! You have a wonderful website.
Every time I have been to your site to identify something
I get side tracked. I don't know what I like more, the cool
bug photos or the stories that accompany them. Keep up the
great work! Thank you for your time,
Barbara
Richmond, Virginia
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| Pselliopus
Assassin Bug |
Ailanthus
Webworm Moth |
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for you nice letter. If an heroic attempt to prevent
our extinction, we are thrilled to identify you Assassin Bug,
an important predatory species that will devour many pests
in your garden. This beauty is in the genus Pselliopus. We
found a perfect match on BugGuide.
Next time someone tries to type yellow bug into their search
engine, they should be lead to the correct answer. Your second
unknown is an Ailanthus Webworm Moth. We have heard that the
innapropriately named Tree of Heaven, the Ailanthus Tree,
has invaded nearly 30% of the Shenandoah National Forest,
which is probably accounting for the increase in sightings
of the lovely moth. The tree is a horrible invasive species
that is found along the roadsides in most parts of the country.
The tree spreads by seeds as well as a vigorous root system
and is considered on of our most important exotic invaders.
Sadly, the moth larvae just eat the leaves and are not wood
borers which might actually help control the tree.
Wheel Bug deploys scent gland
(12/13/2006) Wheel Bug Ovipositing
I recently (12/09/06) came across this wheel bug ovipositing
in the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge and wanted to share the
images. I found the bug's ovipositor(s) very interesting.
Great site,
Anthony
Hi Anthony,
We have gotten many images of the distinctive Wheel Bug egg
clusters, but this is the first for us. Thanks for sending
your wonderful photo to us. Eric Eaton later clarified as
to what was happening in this image: " I just noticed that
this wheel bug is NOT laying an egg, but deploying a scarlet
scent gland in self-defense. Don't know what triggers this
behavior, but I did find a wheelbug in a spider web once that
had spilled a great amount of bright orange goo like this.
Eric "
Assassin Bug
(11/05/2006) What the heck is this bug? Packs a whallop of
a bite.
Can you help us identify this bug? Bit my wife tonite, and
she had immediate pain, swelling, and a blood spot in the
middle of the swelling where it bit her. Small bug, big bite.
Thanks for your help.
Brian and Carrie Cantrall
Scottsdale, AZ
Hi Brian,
This is an Assassin Bug, probably in the genus Zelus.
Wheel Bug
(11/01/2006) A very strange looking insect
I found a very large bug on outside on the window and I'd
like to know if you can tell me what it is. It's approximately
1- 1 1/2 inches long. I was wondering if it was some kind
of large weevil because of the long nose. Thanks for any help
you can give. I've never seen an insect like it--it's a little
scary looking!
Carrie
Hi Carrie,
We toyed with the idea of making the predatory Wheel Bug,
one of the Assassin Bugs, our Bug of the Month for November,
but opted for the Boxelder Bug instead.
Zelus Assassin Bug Nymph
(10/28/2006) This may help
Dear Bugman,
I sent an e-mail yesterday asking for a bug identification.
I noticed on your site today that you posted a picture from
Stephanie from Austin, Tx. The picutre was kinda blurry but
the bugs looked a lot like the pic I took. I will send it
again for you and hope this clears it up for Stephanie and
myself. Thanks,
Brent
Hi Brent,
Before we contacted Eric Eaton, we suspected Stephanie's creatures
might be Zelus Assassin Bug hatchlings. Eric dispelled that
suspicion by pointing out that Assassin Bugs do not lay eggs
in rows. Eric believes the hatchlings are Coreid Bugs. Your
photo is of a Zelus Assassin nymph, the original suspicion
we had about Stephanie's hatchlings. Your specimen is Zelus
longipes, the Milkweed Assassin Bug.
Wheel Bug
(10/22/2006) Here's a Real Stinker!
Hello Bugman,
Found outside in Baltimore Maryland. Yes, it stinks when disturbed.
Looks kind of prehistoric. About 1 1/2 inches long. Yes, it
can fly. Beautiful deep red iridescent wing color. Can't find
its picture anywhere for ID. Does it look familiar? Thanks!
Brian
Hi Brian,
When we get letters with the word prehistoric in them, it
is usually associated with the Dobsonfly or the Wheel Bug.
We have more than 20 photos of Wheel Bugs on our site in various
places, including Bug Love and Food Chain as well as Assassin
Bugs. There is currently an image on our homepage as well.
We can't imagine how you found our site and could not locate
the Wheel Bug as we have a search engine. Your photo is very
classic.
Wheel Bug at Boxelder Bug Buffet
(10/21/2006) Black bug hanging out with boxelder bugs
Dear Bugman,
I was taking pictures of some nice boxelder bugs when I noticed
about 6 of these bugs "hanging out" with them.What
are these? They are huge!! Thanks much,
Christine
 
Hi Christine,
We know from your subsequent email that you correctly identified
your Wheel Bug. You must be the envy of everyone with a Boxelder
Bug infestation as your ecosystem has provided a natural predator
that will no doubt control the numbers of the Boxelders and
keep the situation manageable.
Dear Bugman. Never mind! Figured it out from your web-page.
This is a wheel-bug, right? Very cool bug!!!! I presume it
is munching on the box-elder bug nymphs???
Christine
Wheel Bug
(10/10/2006) ID Please?
It looks to me like some kind of Weevil, but it's proboscis
is veery long and it's front legs are almost mantid-like.
Any idea? Thanks
Laura
Hi Laura,
Since we got two letters in one day from people who could
not identify their Wheel Bugs on our site, it is time to post
some new images. Wheel Bugs are predatory Assassin Bugs and
can deliver a painful bite to the unwary handler.
Wheel Bug
(10/10/2006) this must be obvious
Hi there,
I can't match this anywhere on the internet, and my classification
abilities are weak. It looks like such an obvious appearance.
Please let me know what this is. Aside from the picture I
took, at the bottom of the abdomen, it appeared to have spinnerets??
It did not move quickly, and the mouth seemingly ended in
a sickle shaped appendage. This picture is from lower DE.
Rich
Hi Rich,
Though your internet search did not turn up an identification
for your Wheel Bug, it did lead you to our site. We are inclined
to speculate that once there, you just sent in the photo without
looking since we have had a photo of mating Wheel Bugs on
our homepage for about a month. We always try to keep seasonal
insects on our homepage. Additionally, we have at least 25
more images of Wheel Bugs on our Assassin Bug pages. These
predators will bite if provoked.
WHERE
ON EARTH IS IT????????
(09/27/2006) What on earth is this?
Thank you,
Eric
Hi Eric,
We really don't want to do anything to encourage identification
requests like yours, devoid of helpful information, so we
will request that you return to the site to get your answer.
These are mating Wheel Bugs, a species of Assassin Bug, and
they are highly beneficial insects that devour quantities
of harmful garden insects. We absolutely love the photograph.
Sorry. Additional info: These were located on my deck railing
in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. We live in development
that used to be an old orchard. Many of the orchard trees
still exist and these photos were taken directly under a black
walnut tree which catapillars recently ravaged. So, hopefully
these little 'assassin' gems are getting their fill !!! Thank
you for you help.
Eric
Mating Wheel Bugs
(09/16/2006) Wheel Bug Love
Hello! I found your website very useful a few weeks ago when
I was IDing some moths, and I thought you might enjoy this
pic of some wheel bugs I found on my tomato table a few days
ago. Thanks for the great site!
Clara
Hi Clara,
As we state on our homepage, it is impossible to answer all
our letters. Eventually, after they have sat in the inbox
a few days, we must delete. This fills us with guilt, so we
open a few hoping for a lost gem. Your photo is one of those
lost gems, so we are posting, albeit a few days late. Your
mating Wheel Bugs is one of the finest photos of the species
we have received.
Assassin Bug
(09/13/2006) Please identify this bug - when you have time
in your busy schedule.
I love your website! I would like to know what kind of bug
this is. I came across him as I was photographing bumblebees
enjoying these beautiful spiked flowers. I took the photo
with my new Canon Digital Rebel XT, which I am really enjoying.
Thanks for your help!
Patty Tucker
Hi Patty,
Thank you so much for your polite letter. We are growing weary
of the demanding and insensitive tone of so many of the letters
we receive. Our delete key is getting plenty of action. This
is an Assassin Bug in the genus Pselliopus. We found a match
on BugGuide.
Thanks for your quick reply. What a name for a bug! Funny!!
I hate that people have to be rude and insensitive. What a
waste of life and time! I could tell by the note on your website
that you guys were overwhelmed with requests. I was hesitant
about even sending my photo. Thanks for a speedy response
and for having a great website. The good feeling you have
to come away with from the numerous emails you receive, good
and bad, is that you guys have created a wonderful, informative
and fun website. Way to go! Have a great day!
Patty Tucker
Alabama
Masked
Hunter
(09/02/2006) What's this guy's story?
Found this tiny insect (half the diameter of a pencil eraser)
on my kitchen counter. The only reason I even saw him was
his poor choice of hiding places--on top of a red pizza menu.
I thought it was a spider, but can only count 6 legs in my
photos. He was a slow mover. Back legs were nearly twice as
long as the others. His most distinctive feature is clearly
the flaky skin. Perhaps he was just sticky and picked up some
crumbs. At the magnification of this shot, he appears to be
breaded and deep fried. Can you ID him and provide any insight
into his tasty looking, tempura-like coating? Thanks,
Jeff C.
Hi Jeff,
We love your deep fried description of a Masked Bedbug Hunter,
one of the Assassin Bugs. This is a nymph, and when this species
is immature, it is sticky and gets covered with "lint" which
acts as protection. They will feed on Bed Bugs which are reaching
epidemic proportions recently.
Milkweed
Assassin Bug eats Honey Bee
(08/29/2006) Zeleus Longpipes enjoys a bee snack!
Dear WTB- I was outside gardening (with my camera- ha ha)
and discovered this Milkweek Assassin Bug enjoying a late
breakfast! He must have surprised the bee by hiding underneath
the leaf of the Passion Flower Vine. Thought you might like
the picture!
Luzie Benavides
Katy, Texas
Hi Luzie,
Thanks for sending in your great Food Chain image. If we ever
tried gardening with a camera, we wouldn't get much gardening
done.
Bee
Assassin and Whitecrossed Seed Bug
(08/27/2006) Bee Assassin, White-crossed Seed Bug
Hi Bugman et al,
I'm just another one of your thousands (or is it millions?)
of fans that have caught the Bug bug from you. (A seemingly
harmless virus that causes the "sufferer" to want
to take photos of bugs). Harmless? Perhaps, perhaps not. Bugs
can sometimes bug you. After perusing your web site numerous
times I just wanted to send you a couple of photos of bugs
(True Bugs!) that aren't Box Elder bugs. You already seem
to have a lot of photos of them. I believe one is a Bee Assassin
Bug, supposedly he's great to have in your garden. Good thing,
I had a lot of them this summer. The photo was taken June
3, 2006. The other photo is a Whitecrossed Seed Bug (which
I can't understand why they didn't name it a British Soldier
Bug - but then they didn't ask me) taken on August 25, 2006.
Hope you like the photos, isn't it nice to see something other
than a Box Elder Bug? Both photos were taken in Newnan, Coweta
County, Georgia.
Karen R. Brooks
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| Bee
Assassin |
Whitecrossed
Seed Bug |
Hi
Karen,
We are posting your letter a day late and have just finished
posting another letter with a Whitecrossed Seed Bug. Thank
you so much for sending us these underrepresented species.
Wheel Bugs Mating
(08/26/2006) Oh no, not more Wheels!
Sorry, I know you guys have tons and tons of Wheel Bug pictures,
but I thought I'd send these just in case you liked 'em. And
who can resist insect pornography, really? I took these photos
in Allentown, Pennsylvania at the Pool Wildlife Sanctuary.
The female looked like she was snacking on a Monarch Caterpillar
when we found them, but they moved away from it before I could
get it in the shot. It would make sense since they were on
a milkweed plant, but aren't those caterpillars poisonous?
Clarissa
Hi Clarissa,
We have to wonder what the Meese
Commission would have to say about your photo. We are
thrilled to post it and push the censorship envelope. Regarding
Monarch Caterpillar, Milkweed does contain toxins and there
are insects that can tolerate them, feeding on the plants.
Certain predators have also built up a tolerance to the toxins.
Also, some literature claims the milkweed merely renders the
vegetarian who feast on it "distasteful".
Wheel
Bug eats Bumble Bee
(08/26/2006) A beautiful bug!
My father sent me this beautiful picture of an assassin beetle
(he identified it.) I was wondering if you could provide more
information. Thank you.
Lillian Sorkin
Bug located in : Finleyville, PA
Hi Lilian,
Assassin Bugs, like your Wheel Bug, are True Bugs, not Beetles.
The Wheel Bug is Arilus cristatus. We have numerous photos
and information on our Assassin Bug pages.
Newly Molted Wheel Bug
(08/23/2005) bright salmon wheelbug
I thought I'd send along this picture of a wheel bug that
my parents took about a month ago in Maryland. They said that
he had just moulted, and when he came out of his old skin
he was a shocking salmon color! When my parents went to check
on him an hour later, he was brown again. Amazing. Also, I
am absolutely in love with your site.
Julia
Hi Julia,
We are thrilled you enjoy our site. Tell your parents we posted
their fabulous photo. Too bad the Wheel Bugs don't stay that
color.
Wheel Bug feasting on Io Moth Caterpillar
(08/23/2006) wheelbug's big appetite
I found this guy enjoying a meal. I know you have a great
collection of pictures, but I thought you might enjoy this
one. Thank You for a helpful site,
Dustin
Hi Dustin,
What a wonderful Food Chain image of a Wheel Bug sucking the
fluids from an Io Moth Caterpillar. Thanks for sending it
our way.
Assassin Bug
(08/16/2006) mystery bug
I'm hoping you can identify this bug which I found as it bit
or stung my foot in the middle of the night.in my bed no less.
As you can imagine I'm not very keen on the idea of running
into more of them and I really hope you and at least tell
me what it is so I can get some more info. Thanks so much
Brian Becker
Southern California
Hi Brian,
This is an Assassin Bug in the genus Rasahus. We located it
on BugGuide.
Wheel Bug
(08/09/2006) Assassin bug
With your excellent site, finally identified the fearsome
cicada killer wasps swarming our rosemary bushes in Austin,
Texas. Great page on assassin bugs, but didn't see any green
specimens...here's one found in our backyard. Keep up the
good work! Thanks!
David
Hi David,
Your Wheel Bug photo is one of the finest we have received
this year. This large Assassin Bug generates many queries,
and we like to keep an image on the homepage in late summer.
Wheel Bug
(08/09/2006) Leaf Bug?
Dear Bug Man,
First, we LOVE your site! The humor in the carnage section
in particular! We found this bug in my mom's blackberry bushes.
My girls think it looks prehistoric. It also looks like a
predator and not a leaf eater. I am going to let it go in
my garden right now. Thank you in advance for your help!!
Jenny in Indiana
Hi Jenny,
You have a good eye for predation. This is a Wheel Bug, one
of the Assassin Bugs. It will help rid your garden of agricultural
pests, though it will also not discriminate against beneficial
insects.
Milkweed Assassin Bug eats Honey Bee
(08/07/2006) Bug "Eating" a Bee?
Hello! We live in Spring, TX (north of Houston) and found
this on our car this morning. It seemed that the black and
orange bug had "stuck" the bee...reminded me of
a mosquito sucking blood. When the bug noticed us, it started
dragging the bee across the car. My husband tried to blow
them off the car, and then the bug flew away dropping the
bee. Any clues? Our 7-year-old would love to know...so would
we!!! :) Didn't see it searching the site. Thanks!
~Bridget
Oh, wait!!! I searched one more time on your site before pressing
"send" and found assassin bugs and there it was!
Yikes! I'll attach the pic anyway. Thank you! :)
Hi Bridget,
We are thrilled you located the Milkweed Assassin Bug on our
site and your photo of this Assassin Bug feasting on a Honey
Bee is a nice addition to our site.
Wheel Bug
(08/06/2006) unknown bug
This is apparently not a mantid, but I cannot find an image
of anything like him. I saw him eating a spider during a recent
sunny, very warm day in Ohio. Do you have any ideas? PS: What
a most interesting site!
Neil Webner
Columbus, OH
Hi Neil,
This is an adult Wheel Bug since it has wings. Judging by
the red color, we are guessing it is freshly metamorphosed.
It should darken to charcoal gray or black.
Masked Bedbug Hunter
(07/31/2006) I can't ID this on your site
Hope you can help, I found this 3 mm little guy in a office
building in Spokane WA. It was no where near a exit, but very
much inside the building. It seems to be covered in some kind
of lint, but I can say for sure looking in the magnifying
glass that it is not lint. It is also very white. He/She is
facing the camera, and it's longer legs are its hind legs.
Any ideas? Thank you for any help.
Mark D.
Hi Mark,
With the population of Bed Bugs reacing epidemic proportions,
as witnessed by the numerous google ads on our site, you should
be happy your office is being patrolled by a Masked Bed Bug
Hunter. This little predator is sticky and gets covered with
lint, hence it is masked. We have numerous awesome photos
of these guys on our Assassin Bugs pages. You might want to
think twice before napping on that office Murphy Bed if there
are Bed Bugs about.
Wheel Bug eats Japanese Beetle
(07/28/2006) Assassin bug eats japanese beetle!
Hello
Here a few pics of an sawtooth assassin bug chowing down on
a japanese beetle. I just though you might like to add them
to the archive. Have a great day,
Jared
Hi Jared,
We generally see this Assassin Bug called a Wheel Bug, but
Sawtooth Bug also seems appropriate.
Wheel Bug Metamorphosis
(07/25/2006) Mating Wheel Bugs
I got some great pictures this morning of mating Wheel Bugs,
although I've never seen an orange one before. Do they change
their color for "mating season"? Or is this just
a different type of Wheel Bug than the usual black Wheel Bug
that I always see around here?: I will also attach the pictures
in case you have trouble seeing them in this e-mail. Thanks!
Laura Frazier
Hi Laura,
The orange Wheel Bug in your photo is newly metamorphosed
and has not darkened to its normal adult coloration yet. Its
"partner" is really the discarded exoskeleton. Thanks for
sending in your photo of Wheel Bug metamorphosis. It is rare
that we get 11 views at almost 1M per image to choose from.
To be honest, we just opened three and chose the best, knowing
full well there might have been a gem we missed.
Masked Hunter
(07/10/2006) Looks like a large mite
Hello Bugman,
Hi, my name is Shawn, and I work in Beloit, WI. I got to work
this morning and I went to put on my steel toe boots, just
like any other morning, and I noticed a very small movement
on my shoe inserts. I pulled out the inserts and found a bug
on them. I work in a lab so naturally I went to a stereoscope
and looked at it under some
magnification. It looks like there is sand or another gritty
substance on it, but I cannot tell if that is its body, or
if it really does have stuff stuck to it. I do use foot powder
in my shoes, but the foot powder would be more fine than the
grit that is on its body. I have included a photo of the bug
and was wondering if you could give some insight as to what
it might be. Thank-you very much for your time.
Shawn Tunks
Hi Shawn,
This is an immature Masked Hunter, one of the Assassin Bugs.
The young insects are sticky and lint adheres to them. They
are predators and a favorite prey is the Bedbud, a pest now
reaching epidemic proportions.
Newly Hatched Wheel Bugs
(06/28/2006) what is this insect?
Dear Bugman,
My husband found these strange-looking fellows on one of our
trees in the backyard and were perplexed as to what it is.
We thought it might be some kind of beetle. We live in North-Western
Virginia near the mountains.
Thank you!
-Angela
Hi Angela,
What an awesome image of newly hatched Wheel Bugs. These are
a species of predatory Assassin Bug.
Milkweed
Assassin Bugs Mating
(06/20/2006) Bug love: Zelus longpipes Assassin Bugs Hi Bugman..
Found these two in my maple tree, feeling frisky. Thought
you might like the picture for the bug love pages. We have
lots of them around here (Katy, Texas) and identified them
thanks to your great site! Ya'll are great! Thanks so much!
Luzie Benavides
Just west of Houston, Texas
Hi Luzie,
Thank you for sending in your excellent photo of the Milkweed
Assassin Bugs, Zelus longipes, mating.
Immature Wheel Bug
(06/18/2006) Help with identification, please?
Hi, I just found your site...I can't stand bugs but this is
a great idea! We've seen these bugs just in the last year
or two here around our home. We live just across the road
from the Susquehanna River, in Northeast PA (about 40 miles
from the capitol of Harrisburg.) And we live near a chicken
farm (with trees between us and the farm.) This photo shows
what I believe to be a baby --we call them "red and black
bugs". They don't fly but live in the trees and also
collect on the top rail of our fence and on the roof of the
kids' playhouse. They are sometimes found on what we call
a "nest" --a kind of dark colored, low profiled
honeycomb looking thing attached to the tree bark. Not sure
if this is where they live or where they store their food?
They grow to be at least an inch long, and if I recall correctly,
the red on their tail section becomes less pronounced. They've
got this strange red tail section that sticks up in the air.
They have 3 legs down each side, 2 long antenna, and a hook-like
thing at their mouth, which in the first picture is extended
outward. They seem to be able to tuck it in and out whenever
they want to. When they see you coming, they make evasive
maneuvers to get away from you and will not hesitate to jump
down to the grass from their perch in order to get away. I
have seen one or two eating/carrying bugs. Also, some have
a black stripe down the back of their red tail section, and
some don't have that. This particular example has the black
stripe. I guess if you could tell me if they're harmful, bite,
sting etc. and of course what they're called, I would sure
appreciate it...also, what we can do to get rid of them? Or
just leave them be? Thanks so much, I look forward to your
reply.
Marjorie
Hi Marjorie,
What a nice descriptive letter. You hit all the points we
like people to tell us regarding the photos they send. This
is an immature Wheel Bug. They are predators and very beneficial
in gardens and orchards. They eat many harmful insects. On
the down side, they can bite painfully, but the bite is not
dangerous. Just don't handle them. Adult Wheel Bugs have wings
and can fly. They have a distinctive coglike crest which alludes
to the common name.
Bee Assassin
(06/16/2006) A true bug?
Bugman,
I came across this bug on my sunflower, in Phoenix Az. My
grandaughter( 8) just loves bugs and wanted to play with him,
she had a great time looking at the photos on your site. After
reaching for the camera to snap it first, I scoured your site
but still did not find it. It appears to be maybe a nymph
of a true bug variety. Could not find a pic just like it though.
Your help in identifying it would be most appreciated.
Thanks, Elaine
Hi Elaine,
Bee Assassins are True Bugs, but we have several pages devoted
specifically to Assassin Bugs. Bee Assassins are in the genus
Apiomerius. Careful, they will bite. Your specimen is a winged
adult.
Blood
Sucking Cone-Nose Bug
(05/29/2006) Assassin/Kissing Bug
Hello. I was wondering if you could help me determine the
difference between Kissing Bugs and Assassin Bugs. I understand
that Kissing Bugs feed on vertebrates while Assassins feed
on invertebrates, but I'm not entirely certain what this bug
eats. They are pretty common around my house in the Phoenix
area of Arizona. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Nick
Hi Nick,
Sorry about the delay, but it is impossible to answer every
letter. All Kissing Bugs are Assassin Bugs in the family Reduviidae,
but the reverse is not true. This is a Blood Sucking Cone-Nose
Bug, also known as a Kissing Bug in the genus Triatoma.
It can spread Chagas Disease.
Kissing Bug Update
(11/09/2006) Kissing bug (Triatoma dimidiata)
Hello! This summer I was fortunate enough to research Kissing
bugs, T. dimidiata. I noticed on your website some information
on them, but I thought I would clarify some misconceptions
on these very cool creatures! 1st, they transmit Chagas disease
not by their bite, but by their feces. As they feed on sleeping
creatures, they can bite for up to an hour. During this time,
they excrete. The victim later scratches the itchy bite, pushing
the feces into the skin. Also, while the insects live throughout
the Americas, cases of Chagas disease are reported almost
exclusively in South America. It can also be spread through
food and contact with the mucus membranes after touching the
feces. Kissing bugs are attracted to CO2 and heat, like mosquitos.
They fly only when hungry, and only the adults fly. They are
not to be confused with very similar-looking assassin bugs
that feed on plants. In domestic conditions, the insects live
usually in woodpiles or in wooden bedframes in homes near
the woods with lots of dirt and dust. They dislike moist conditions.
I included a powerpoint made for educative purposes in Latin
America with some nice pictures... I love your website!
Alli
Wheel Bugs Hatching
(05/08/2006) Bug Identification
Hi there,
Below you'll find photos of an egg cluster and then what hatched
out of it in eastern PA. The hatched bugs have stayed around
while the others hatched. I would appreciate an identification.
Ken
Hi Ken,
These are newly hatched Wheel Bugs, a type of Assassin Bug.
They are a predatory species that will help control the plant
harming insects in your garden.
Zelus Assassin Nymph
(04/23/2006) assassin bug or stink bug?
I recently went to a class on ecological pest management and
they said that it is hard to tell the difference between an
assassin bug and a leaf footed stink bug. One is good &
one is bad. Now, I'm freaked out because I don't know if I
have the good ones or the bad ones. I have about 10 of these
guys on a rose bush and I found another one on a crepe myrtle
on the other side of my house. Hope you can tell me if I should
kill them or leave them alone.
Melissa
Houston, TX
Hi Melissa,
You have beneficial Zelus Assassin Bug nymphs.
More
Newly Hatched Wheel Bugs
(04/20/2006)
Hello,
A friend of mine took this picture of this mystery bug on
an apple tree in Altoona, Alabama on 4-16-06. In the picture
there seems to be a hive that they are crawling in and out
of. I have also seen the bug on a tree across from my house
either on a maple tree or an oak tree about a year ago. I
live in Albertville, Alabama. On the tree across from my house
these bugs were all over it, so many you couldn't see the
bark all you seen was red and black. They were even crawling
up and down the curb on the street. We are just curious as
to what kind of bug this is. If you can identify the bug it
would be interesting to know what kind it is.
Thanks.
Kristi Richards
Hi Kristi,
The pictured insect is a group of newly hatched Wheel Bugs,
a type of Assassin Bug. They are predatory and beneficial
in the garden where they will rid your plants of many pests.
The bug you described on the maple is similarly colored, but
is probably a Boxelder Bug.
Newly Hatched Wheel Bugs
(04/20/2006) Wheel Bug Nymphs
Hello,
Thanks for your site. I was able to identify the mass of "bugs".
Here is a photo I took of our bunch of nymphs.
Mark
And a fabulous photo it is Mark!!!
Assassin Bug Nymph
(04/15/2006) beautiful assassin bug
Hi Bugman,
Here are some pics of a nymph assassin bug. I kept it for
a few days feeding it stink bugs and small caterpillars. These
are very interesting to observe.
Thanks,
Rachel
Hi Rachel,
Thank you for sending in your excellent photo of an immature
Assassin Bug. We believe it is the Milkweed Assassin Bug in
the genus Zelus.
Newly
Hatched Wheel Bugs
(04/13/2006) Got a bug we cant ID...
Any Ideas?
Ryan & Courtney
Hi Ryan and Courtney,
These are newly hatched Wheel Bugs, a type of Assassin Bug.
Masked
Bed Bug Hunter
(04/11/2006)
Kelly B. Pascoe
Minisink Valley Buildings & Grounds
Slate Hill, NY
Hi Kelly,
There was no question here. There was not even a greeting
much less a thank you for our time. This is a Masked Bed Bug
Hunter.
I very much apologize- it was one of those deals that you
attach the picture, then automatically hit send. I apologize.
Thank you very much for your information and your time.
Kelly
Zelus Assassin Bug Nymph
(04/07/2006) Assassin?
This bug was on a Camillia in my back yard now his image is
my desktop image. Is this shy little guy an Assassin Bug?
I can't see a stinger.
This is an immature Assassin Bug Nymph in the genus Zelus.
It doesn't have a stinger, but it does have a piercing mouthpart.
Zelus Assassin Nymphs feeding on Cricket
(04/01/2006) assassin bugs
This is a picture of what I believe to be two immature assassin
bugs, the bottom one eating a cricket. They were found in
my yard in Lynn Haven, FL. Please help me identify their species.
Thank you.
Rachel
Hi Rachel,
We don't want to even attempt a species identification on
a nymph, but we are fairly certain the genus is Zelus.
Masked
Bed Bug Hunter
(03/21/2006) Oh my.... please identify this bug!
I'm so happy I found your site! Could you please tell me what
this is?! I just found it ON MY BED! It's two o'clock in the
morning and I don't think I'll sleep tonight because I'm refusing
to set foot in my bedroom until I find out what this is...
I wonder how long it's been sleeping with me?? I'm so disgusted...
Waiting for your reply, Sleeping with a bug
P.S. I kind of destroyed it's back right leg (by accident)
while capturing it.
Samantha,
Calm down Samantha, and rest easy.
The Masked Bed Bug Hunter is a type of Assassin Bug. It can
bite, but is not a household pest. They actually prey upon
Bed Bugs, the true vermin, and as Bed Bug populations are
on the rise in big cities, you should welcome your Masked
Hunter.
Orange
Assassin Bug
(03/17/2006) What's this striking orange bug?
My guess is that it's some variety of stinkbug, although I
confess I didn't poke it to see if it produced a stench. This
was taken at the Heard Science Museum and Nature Preserve
in McKinney, Texas in March 2006. The critter is perched on
the bark of the largest sycamore tree in the preserve.
Joy
Hi Joy,
This is most definitely an Assassin Bug in the family Reduviidae,
but we are not sure of the species. We would like to get Eric
Eaton to substantiate this. Eric just wrote in with this information:
" The orange assassin bug is a Pselliopus sp., probably P.
barberi."
Milkweed Assassin Bug
(03/14/2006) What is this Creature?
Hi, found your site this morning and was relieved to see someone
cares enough to help folks like me indentify those strange
but often beautiful insects. The first picture was taken several
days before the next three. However both were found on flowers
of same plant. While I think the bug with wings open resembles
the other pictures, I am not sure. I did various searches
on your site and browsed all beetles, flies, moths and more.
I did not feel I found a perfect match. Thanks in advance.
Patti McNeal in Katy, TX
 
Hi Patti,
All of your photos are of a Milkweed Assassin Bug, Zelus longipes.
These predatory True Bugs are beneficial in the garden where
they help eat many insect pests.
Immature
Assassin Bug
(03/14/2006) what's this?
Hi bugman. I love the pictures on your site. Keep up the great
work. Well, here is my addition for your site. I live in Atlanta,
GA area and found this guy walking around a spider web like
he owned it. However, it does not appear to be a spider. From
one of the pics I'm sending you, it looks as if it has long
fangs or something resembling fangs. I'm not sure, but I think
I saw one of these last year that had killed a spider and
sucked it's juices out. The length of it's body (without it's
legs) is roughly 3/4 of an inch long. I didn't see it in your
spider sections, but then again, I'm not sure if it is a spider.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Rick
Hi Rick,
This is an immature Assassin Bug. Adults will grow wings.
They are predators with sucking mouth parts, and if handled
carelessly, they will give you a painful bite. Eric Eaton
added that this specimen is in the genus Zelus.
Masked Bedbug Hunter
(02/18/2006) Colorless insect
My son was going through our box of mittens today (it's 0
deg F here today) and started screaming when this 'thing'
started moving around in the box. It's about 10-12mm long,
very flat. I took the picture of the insect in a coffee can..
What is it?
Mike
Hi Mike,
This is a Masked Bedbug Hunter, a type of Assassin Bug. If
you haven't been bitten by Bedbugs, which are currently reaching
epidemic status in several big cities, then the Masked Bedbug
Hunters must be doing their job.
Masked Bedbug Hunter
(02/07/2006) Bedbug Hunter?
Is this a Bedbug Hunter? I found him/her on the bathroom floor..S/He
looked like s/he was about to square off with a tiny spider.
Tony
Hi Tony,
You are absolutely correct, this is a Masked Bedbug Hunter.
Australian
Assassin Bug
(01/25/2006)
Bugman
A friend found this lurking around down here in Australia,
What is it?
Pean
Hi Pean,
This is some species of Assassin Bug.
Assassin Bug
(12/18/2005) Crazy Bug
This bug bit my friend, and his ankle is killing him, and
he feels woozy. We've never seen anything like it. He lives
in Woodland Hills, CA. Any help? Thanks.
Ryan
Hi Ryan,
This is an Assassin Bug. There are several species including
Kissing Bugs and Cone-Nose Bug which are disease carrying
vectors. Your particular Assassin Bug, though it will bite
painfully, is not a long lasting problem. The effects of the
bite should soon pass. We believe this is one of the Zelus
Assassins. As a side note, because of your letter, we realized
we have been spelling the word Assassin incorrectly for years
and have been correcting all the errors we could locate on
our site.
Wheel Bug
(12/12/2005) Curious?
My father sent me these pictures and asked what sort of bug
this is? It looks like a leaf footed bug or a stink bug, but
my knowledge of entomology is quite limited. If you know what
this bug is, could you let me know?
Thank you,
Ricky Woofter
Hi Ricky,
We know by your follow-up letter that you identified your
Wheel Bug. We like your father's photo so we are posting it.
Zelus Assassin Bug
(12/03/2005) Help, Help, Help
Bugman,
We have found over a hundred of these in our house over the
past two months. We have explored your website extensively
and think it may be a Zelus assassin bug, or a Western Conifer
Seed Bug. Here is the catch, during this time our son
has gotten two swollen eyelids, one on each eye. Both
eyelids had similar characteristics, they slowly swelled up
until closed after about 3 days, then within about 2 days
they were fine. Neither itched, and his eye was not
red, nor did he demonstrate any painful symptoms. Needless
to say our immediate response was that he got bitten by one
of these bugs. However, if it is a Seed Bug, then they
are not supposed to bite. We are hoping it is a seed
bug, and that he is just having an allergic reaction to something,
but being he might have been bitten by the zelus bug we are
a little freaked out and borderline going nuts. So what
is the verdict doctor?
Kevin Hibbs
Hi Kevin,
This is a Zelus Assassin, but sadly, we can't explain why
your son is getting bitten. Assassin Bugs will bite if handled,
but they are not really aggressive.
Australian Assassin Bug
(12/03/2005) Looks like an immature Assassin Bug?
Hello Bugman
A friend found this guy in her garden (Toowoomba, Queensland
Australia) - We have lots of the reddish brown bodied
mature Assassin Bugs, this is the first one of this color
I have seen. The head and neck look a slightly different
shape to what I am used to. Do you think it is of the Assassin
bug family? Thanks in anticipation
Keith Power
Toowoomba Q
Australia
Hi Keith,
This is one of the Assassin Bugs. It looks like one of the
group known as Bee Assassins.
Immature
Assassin Bug
(12/01/2005) can you help with our little green bug?
We found this little green bug in Cape Henlopen State Park,
Delaware, while hiking near the Delaware Bay in early October.
My son spotted it on the underside of a tree leaf in a wooded
area. We can't seem to find anything similar in any
of our insect identification books. It's quite small
(1/2 inch?), as the thumb in the picture belongs to my 9-year
old son. You have an awesome website, and we enjoy the great
pictures. Thanks for your help!
Janine
Hi Janine,
This is an immature Assassin Bug. We will need to to more
research to try to get an exact species. Nymphs are often
impossible to positively identify.
Wheel Bug
(11/16/2005) What the?
Hi Bugman. I've already looked through your site in
search of this bug but didn't see anything like it.
It's pretty big (at least 1" long, including the legs),
and has a "gear" shape on the back of it's body.
It looks like it has wings. It's been hanging around
my front door for a few weeks now. I've seen it use
that gear thing to flip itself over to get back onto it's
feet. Can you tell me what it is?
Melanie H
West Chester, PA
Moments later: Sorry Bugman! I found
it! It's a wheel bug. Hope you like my pictures!
Hi Melanie,
We are so happy you properly identified your Wheel Bug on
our site.
Milkweed
Assassin Bug
(11/13/2005) Hi buggy guys!
Your site is so cool!! Anyway, my 2 little kids swear
these guys sting or bite...something outside our house does. I
am not even sure what it is, and I have seen several of these
guys (we live in NW FL, *very* close to the gulf) most of
them are a sharp orange color, this one is orange and black.
I have a huge viney plant over my back porch, and once a larvae
of something (i guessed it was this type bugs baby, it was
transparent orange-ish?) landed on my arm, it stung like hell!!
Then another night, (it was dark, unable to see) something
else landed on me, i guess it is the adult version, as it
stung like hell 10x over, a minor local reaction, but a major
sting...OUCH! Anyway, what the heck is this pretty orange
bug, and is this the species that keeps stinging me???
LOL, thanks so much for your help!!
Good Times,
Paula
Hi Paula,
This is a Milkweed Assassin Bug, Zelus longipes. It is a beneficial
insect in the garden as it consumes many garden pests. The
downside is that it will bite if provoked. The bite though
painful, is not serious.
Thread
Legged Bug
(11/11/2005) Mantid / looks like walking stick
Please let me know when you have seen the images and if you
find the exact species name. Up close it looked exactly like
a preying mantis with a head shaped slightly different. Thank
you for your help,
Van Lavoy Jacobs 2
Frederick, MD
 
Hi again Van,
Thank you for allowing us to post your excellent photos of
an amazing insect, a Thread Legged Bug.
Ed. Note: Eric Eaton just provided us with
the following information, and Van has provided additional
photos.
(11/11/2005) "I would need to know the size of the critter
to tell you even what genus it might be in. If it is 30+
mm, then it has to be Emesaya brevipennis. If it is under
that size, then it is probably a species of Empicoris or Barce. I
didn't check to see where the image was shot, as there could
be more possibilities in the southern U.S. Eric"
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