Ohio part 4: A wheel bug

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MarkSturtevant
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Location: Michigan, U.S.A.
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Ohio part 4: A wheel bug

Post by 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.
ImageWheel 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!
ImageWheel bug by Mark Sturtevant, on Flickr

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

Thanks for looking!
Mark Sturtevant
Dept. of Still Waters

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Adalbert
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Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2015 1:09 pm

Re: Ohio part 4: A wheel bug

Post by Adalbert »

very nice :smt041

AlP
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Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2021 5:48 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: Ohio part 4: A wheel bug

Post by AlP »

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

dy5
Posts: 122
Joined: Sun Feb 07, 2010 7:50 pm
Location: College Park, MD

Re: Ohio part 4: A wheel bug

Post by dy5 »

Lovely photos, Mark!

Olympusman
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Re: Ohio part 4: A wheel bug

Post by Olympusman »

Nice series!

Mike
Michael Reese Much FRMS EMS Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA

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