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Discovering Wheel Bugs

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What is this strange bug?

One afternoon, the girls were out in the backyard when they found an interesting bug.

We put it in a specimen cup to examine, and ended up showing it to the neighbors.

Turns out, the lady across the street had a bug just like it in her house, so they went over and caught that one too.

After doing some research, we found out it was a Wheel Bug.

When I read that it can sting you, I decided against trying to get a picture of them, but we let them go instead because they eat garden pests.

(Photo by contributor Dehaan) [CC-BY-SA-3.0-us], via Wikimedia Commons

Reduviidae

Sounds fancy- no?

The Wheel bug is in a family of true bugs which include Assassin bugs and Thread-legged bugs. It is identified by its cog-like dorsal armor (see those spokes on his back?) and their long beaks which unfold to kill their prey.

We were surprised to find out that they are pretty common here in the Midwest, but not many people see them because they are shy.

Photo by Jimguillemette [CC-BY-SA-1.0 or CC-BY-SA-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Secret Agent Bug


Image in the Public Domain Economic entomology: Pamphlets, Volume 82

The Wheel bug is an insectivore- that means he eats other insects. He is also an assassin, killing his prey not by speed but by stealth.

We could call him a "secret agent" because he likes to hide on flowers and wait for big juicy caterpillars and other yummy bugs to come along.

Be careful not to handle the Wheel bug. Because he kills his prey by stinging his victims, he could also sting you and leave you with a nasty ouchie.

Leave him alone and he will become a welcomed ally in your garden- he kills the insects that like to eat your vegetables.

The Wheel-bug has been observed to remain for days in the same ill-chosen position,for instance upon the walls of a building, waiting patiently for something to turn up. It is slow in all its motions, but withal very observant of everything occurring In its neighborhood, proving without doubt great acuteness of senses.
- from Our shade trees and their insect defoliators
By Charles Valentine Riley

Catch some bugs!

You may not want to mess with the Wheel bug, but you can catch other amazing creatures in this mesh-screened enclosure. Get an insect guide and try to identify bug local to your area. Then, have your kids take pictures and blog about it!
CHILDRENS MESH BUG CATCHER - MESH BUG CATCHER. Includes handle and sliding clear observation door. Assorted colors. COLOR SENT AT RANDOM- 1 UNITE PER PURCHASE

CHILDRENS MESH BUG CATCHER - MESH BUG CATCHER. Includes handle and sliding clear observation door. Assorted colors. COLOR SENT AT RANDOM- 1 UNITE PER PURCHASE

Amazon Price: $4.95 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

Free To Download

I created a little fact sheet and minibook for the Wheel bug to go along with our insect lapbook we created a couple years ago. Please click below and download it for your own personal use!

Wheel Bug Fact Sheet & Minibook

Books with Wheel Bugs mentioned

Looking for some good bug books? These books all have the wheel bug mentioned in them. To find more books about insects, you can search Google books with your keywords and see previews to some of the results.
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Backyard Bugs

These counting bugs are great for math and sorting. Have them sort the bugs by color or type into little plastic containers. Your children can pretend to build a bug habitat, or they can use these bugs outside for pretend play!

Bug Counters (Set of 72) at Barnes & Noble

Websites about Wheel Bugs

Learn more about wheel bugs, assassin bugs, and other creepy crawlies at these websites:
Wheel Bug: Assassin of the Insect World (Arilus cristatus)
Nature: The Wheel Bug, Arilus cristata, is a True Bug (Hemiptera) in the Assassin Bug family (Reduviidae). It preys upon other insects.
Beneficial insects in the garden: #09 Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus)
Gardeners love their wheel bugs!
The Wheel Bug | University of Kentucky Entomology
A great site by the University of Kentucky Entomology department
Google Search - Wheel Bug
A list of free public domain books that mention Wheel Bugs
The All-New Nook! The Simple Touch Reader just for $139 - Buy Now at BarnesandNoble.com!

Insect Lapbook

Include all your new-found information about Wheel bugs in an insect lapbook!
Wheel Bug Nymph
Photo by Waldo Jaquith
Free Eric Carle Insect Unit Study
Insect Unit Study based on Eric Carle's books
Free Insects Lapbook - Homeschool Helper
Homeschool Helper's Free Insect Lapbook.
Lapbook Lessons
Scroll to the bottom for a list of Alphabug lapbooks- totally free!
Insect Lapbook
A great lens by another squidoo-er

Have you ever seen a Wheel bug?

Thanks for reading!

  • SudokuNut Oct 19, 2011 @ 4:13 pm | delete
    I love finding new bugs in the garden (as long as they're not eating my veggies) and always jump online to see what it is. I've never had the pleasure of meeting one of these though.
  • deldobuss Oct 19, 2011 @ 4:37 pm | delete
    I hear ya about the bugs eating the veggies! The great thing about the wheel bug is that it will eat those other menacing veggie eaters!
  • fred lewis Oct 10, 2011 @ 9:25 am | delete
    thx very interesting and helpful
  • iijuan12 Jul 11, 2011 @ 10:15 pm | delete
    I think we've seen those. We have such a menagerie of insects around here. They''re fun to study! Thank you for sharing this fun lens!
  • GonnaFly Jul 11, 2011 @ 1:01 am | delete
    I've never seen one of these bugs where I live - maybe we don't have them here. But it was great to learn about them =D
  • Evelyn_Saenz Jul 10, 2011 @ 4:20 am | delete
    If I have ever seen a wheel bug, I didn't know what kind of bug it was. Thanks for all the information on wheel bugs. I wish my kids were still young enough to make lapbooks. They look like so much fun and what a treasure to share with friends and family.
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Smithsonian Handbook: Insects 

Smithsonian Handbooks: Insects (Smithsonian Handbooks)

Smithsonian Handbooks: Insects (Smithsonian Handbooks)

by: George C. McGavin

Amazon Price: $11.35 (as of 05/31/2012)Buy Now

If your child is interested in all things buggy- then this book would be a great field guide for their adventures!

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