Inventing the Wheel(Bug)

Derek Hennen

Why the Wheel Bug?

• Well I have this friend with a gas can…

So…Assassin Bugs?

• Yes, Assassin Bugs!• Family Reduviidae, 150 species north of

Mexico– Worldwide: 6600+ species– Found at forest edges, fields

• Predaceous on a wide variety of invertebrates– Ambush predators– Some are active hunters

Diversity

• 25 subfamilies (11 in US), including:• Harpactorinae

Zelus luridus

Diversity

• Harpactorinae

Rocconota annulicornis

Diversity• Ectrichodiinae

Rhiginia cruciata

Diversity• Emesinae – Thread-legged Bugs

Emesaya brevipennis

Diversity

• Peiratinae - Corsairs

Melanolestes picipes

Diversity

• Phymatinae – Ambush Bugs

Phymata pennsylvanica

Close Encounters

• Ranges poorly known• To fix this…

Close Encounters

• Predators generally = lower numbers• Don’t be deterred! Many attracted to light• Or turpentine…

At Last!

The Wheel Bug - Arilus cristatus

First Impressions

• Its robotic movements and not-so-cuddly looks give it a bad rap

• For example…• http://www.wtae.com/video/29732251/detail

.html

Bad to the Bone

• Obviously, a wasted educational opportunity• When do wheel bugs enter into the public

eye?

From Hagerty AM & McPherson JE. 2000. Life history and laboratory rearing of Arilus cristatus (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) in southern Illinois. Florida Entomologist. 83(1): 58-63.

Backyard Biology

• Relatively common, if you keep your eyes open

• Should we be afraid of this common BLOOD THIRSTY ASSAULT ON OUR HOMESTEADS?!

• Well, of course not. But why?

• What’s so great about our friend, the wheel bug?

And more importantly,

could you love a face like this?

Yes, yes you can.

Baby Wheel Bugs!

http://bugguide.net/node/view/8347

http://freepages.misc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~larsonmorgan/True%20Bugs/Wheel%20Bug%20nymph%20%28Arilus%20cristatus%29%202.jpg

Ecology of the Wheel Bug

• Big predator = big prey (well, larger prey)– Flies– Beetles– Caterpillars– Honey Bees– Does not discriminate

• Quickly dispatches prey?

About that wheel…

http://bugguide.net/node/view/34568

Mating

• Looks comfortable

Excuse me!

The Aftermath: Fancy Wine Bottles

165+25.....

Unfortunately, none hatched.

But that’s not the end of our story!

• In a few months, we’ll have beautiful wheel bugs again!

• If you find one, watch it for a while and gain a better appreciation for it.– One of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen?

An insect leg.

To learn more…

• BugGuide.net• ProjectNoah.org• Normal Biology– normalbiology.blogspot.com

ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!