At first glance a wheel bug looks more like a prehistoric insect that is quite intimidating. The wheel bug is a member of the Assassin Bug family and they are everywhere right now. This family includes wheel bugs, kissing bugs and conenose bugs. The truth is that wheel bugs can be intimidating due to their painful bite that many believe is more painful than any bee or wasp sting.
The background for this insect is that by the Fall of the year, adults are at full growth being about 1 to 1 ½ inches in length. The mouthparts resemble a beak that is folded under the head and are ready at a moment’s notice to unfold and give that poke or bite that is unforgettable.
In many ways the wheel bug is quite a beneficial insect in the garden preying on insects that may damage plants. Normally wheel bugs are not aggressive, however when disturbed, even by accident, its nature is to attack. This insect will hold its prey tightly while inserting the proboscis or poker into the insect while releasing saliva that contains a toxic paralyzing enzyme that renders the prey immobile within 15- 30 seconds while the insides of the insect are sucked out by the piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Although wheel bugs can be beneficial in controlling insects that may attack our plants and vegetables, they are also responsible for feeding on butterfly caterpillars and honeybees. Wheel bugs are easily identified as having a cog-wheel appendage on their backs that are unique. It is interesting that the females are typically larger than the males. Females lay their eggs in the Fall of the year with young hatching out in the spring. Be aware that even in the immature nymph stage the wheel bug can pack a punch to humans if disturbed.
Another type of Assassin Bug is the “kissing bug” which must not be confused with the wheel bug. A kissing bug primarily bites on the face of humans while sleeping or resting, apparently drawn to the face by respiration of the victim. The bite is painful and may take weeks to fully recover. The dangerous part of the bite of the kissing bug is not the bite itself but the protozoan in the insects’ feces that if introduced into humans either through to bite itself, a cut or in the nasal passages of the victim may introduce Chagas Disease which is a very serious autoimmune disease.
Be aware of wheel bugs and other assassin bugs. If they are found inside perhaps treatment would be in order. Outside the home in late fall or winter the adults will die on their own as temperatures drop below freezing.