The Wheel Bug is North America's largest assassin bug, reaching 1.5 inches, with a distinctive cog-wheel shaped crest on its thorax found in no other North American insect. It is a voracious predator that stabs prey with its curved beak, injecting paralytic saliva, and can tackle large prey like caterpillars, beetles, and bees. Its bite is painfully sharp and should be avoided; it is slower and more deliberate than other assassin bugs.
Habitat
Deciduous forests, gardens, and wooded suburban areas
Diet
Adults and nymphs: large insects including caterpillars and beetles
How common
Uncommon
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