Ohio part 4: A wheel bug

[MarkSturtevant]

This will be the last installment about a visit to Ohio last summer. One thing that I had long wanted to photograph was a wheel bug (Arilus cristatus), which is our largest assassin bug. At 33mm they are pretty impressive, and their bite is famously painful. I managed to find a couple nymphs (it being too early for adults), and one was brought home for pictures.
The nymph. Younger nymphs have a lot of red warning color, but this last instar nymph only had a hint of that.
Wheel bug nymph by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
It had a large meal while in captivity, and after some time …

It had molted to the adult. Careful handling, definitely!
Wheel bug by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Here you can see why they are called wheel bugs.
Wheel bug by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr
Wheel bug by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

Thanks for looking!

[Adalbert]

very nice

[AlP]

Dang, we haven't got these over here (good/bad?). Nice captures, thanx for sharing.

[dy5]

Lovely photos, Mark!

[Olympusman]

Nice series!

Mike