Assassin Bug

There are about 7,000 species of Assassin Bugs in the world and more than 150 species in North America. The first photo is of a Pale Green Assassin Bug (Zelus luridus), which I found mostly hidden between two leaves of a “Snow on the Mountain” weed that invaded our back yard in Kansas one summer. All the other photos in this gallery are of the Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus), which was named for the cogwheel-like structure that arises from its thorax. I found the Wheel Bug of the second photo at the site of what appeared to be a hatching of hundreds of Lady Bugs. Assassin Bugs do eat Lady Bugs, but this one must have had enough as it did not move while they walked under and on and around. The rest of photos are of the same individual on a different weed that also invaded our backyard flower garden. The Wheel Bug, which grows to 1 ½ inches not counting antenna, can be found everywhere in North America. Assassin Bugs wait motionless for long periods of time until an unwary insect ventures withing striking distance. Then they stab their victim with the long beak and inject toxin that paralyzes. They do eat some beneficial insects, but they also eat many harmful ones. They are considered a beneficial insect, but do not get too close. You do not want one to stab you. The bite is instantly intensely painful. There is a wide variety of size and color of Assassin Bug species.