jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jul 17, 2016 20:59:42 GMT -5
Atlanta Georgia July 17. Note prob on head at mouth. TG-4 Tough Olympus. Micro mode. The wheel bug (Arilus cristatus), in the family Reduviidae, is one of the largest terrestrial true bugs in North America, reaching up to 1.5 inches (38 mm) in length in their adult stage. A characteristic structure is the wheel-shaped pronotal armor. They are predators upon soft-bodied insects such as caterpillars, Japanese beetles, etc., which they pierce with their beak to inject salivary fluids that dissolve soft tissue. Because most of their prey are pests, wheel bugs are considered as beneficial to the garden as ladybugs. They are also known for eating stinkbugs.   |
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Deleted
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Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2016 21:18:51 GMT -5
Badass
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Jul 17, 2016 21:46:54 GMT -5
Here's a photo of a Wheel Bug Larvae picnicking on a Spider Mite one afternoon on my deck railing. I got bit/stung by one of those things when I was a kid and it hurt like the dickens! Felt like a nail had been driven through my finger.  Larry C. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Jul 17, 2016 22:09:22 GMT -5
Kills stink bugs?
I'll take a couple dozen.
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napoleonrags
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2015
Posts: 474 
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Post by napoleonrags on Jul 17, 2016 22:31:31 GMT -5
Kills stink bugs? I'll take a couple dozen. Jeez, I don't know. It might kill me. Awesome photos. |
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Post by spiceman on Jul 17, 2016 23:44:05 GMT -5
Stink bugs are a big problem in Ohio this year.
Send a LFRB of wheel bugs. LOL Hey would be 1lb. In no time.
Dale
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Post by Garage Rocker on Jul 18, 2016 0:16:45 GMT -5
Stone cold killer. Amazing detail, I believe I see some spiracles.
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Post by spiceman on Jul 18, 2016 0:45:42 GMT -5
I thought so, A wheel bug is a type of assasin bug. Wheel bugs, assasin bugs are in Ohio. Relatives are the kissing bug, wheel bug, assasin bug and I'm sure there are more. Nice
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jul 18, 2016 6:05:38 GMT -5
Stone cold killer. Amazing detail, I believe I see some spiracles. Photo at dusk. Finally slowed him down by putting him on the rod. Got two quick shots and he flew off. Was just getting ready to do a stacked image. Anyway, he would not sit still so photo was rushed. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jul 18, 2016 6:18:12 GMT -5
A couple of years ago I got bit by a giant water bug on my foot. Similar to having blood poison as the poison followed a vein up my leg. They have a similar proboscis but inject enough poison to kill frogs fish turtles. The have long strong arms to hold their prey while they ram they probe into flesh. From images   |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jul 18, 2016 6:20:13 GMT -5
Kills stink bugs? I'll take a couple dozen. We have had a mass hatch of stink bugs too. Wheel bugs hopefully thriving on them. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jul 18, 2016 6:23:29 GMT -5
I thought so, A wheel bug is a type of assasin bug. Wheel bugs, assasin bugs are in Ohio. Relatives are the kissing bug, wheel bug, assasin bug and I'm sure there are more. Nice Certainly a beneficial insect for garden. A shy bug but a real killer. Injection of digestive fluid for live breakdown of prey's body, stone cold. Insect world Jurassic. |
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wampidytoo
has rocks in the head
Add 5016 to my post count.
Member since June 2013
Posts: 709
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Post by wampidytoo on Jul 18, 2016 6:31:10 GMT -5
Damn, I would like to see one that isn't rushed. It looks like you have taken full control of that camera and the camera is delivering what you want. I am very impressed with both of you. How much time have you spent playing with the camera? Olympus has a pretty easy setup but it took me a little while to switch from the old one to the new one especially if I had to hurry.
Jim
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jul 18, 2016 9:10:41 GMT -5
Damn, I would like to see one that isn't rushed. It looks like you have taken full control of that camera and the camera is delivering what you want. I am very impressed with both of you. How much time have you spent playing with the camera? Olympus has a pretty easy setup but it took me a little while to switch from the old one to the new one especially if I had to hurry. Jim Sat on buttocks w/old lady on front porch last night and did dusk and close ups. Got used to Olympus menu logistics. Well organized Jim. But has sub menu and sub sub menus that are a bit more camouflaged. still got a long way to go. impressed with performance. Micro may be the highest performance setting. It is off the chart. micro utilizes the 4.5mm very short focal length section of the zoom. Typical camera focal lengths, 18mm a typical close fixed macro. Less than that is going toward micro. But can be a bit more complicated for zoom.  |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 20, 2016 13:58:56 GMT -5
I've never seen a wheelbug and never heard of them until my brother had a close encounter which freaked him the hell out. He was sitting on my bro in law's deck when two fighting wheelbugs came from the roof to land at his feet with a loud thud. He flipped out!
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agatemaggot
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Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Jul 20, 2016 14:16:24 GMT -5
Got tagged on my foot by a giant water bug when I was a little kid. I wound up with a hole the size of a marble in my heel. HURT  ?? YOU BETCHA ! |
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Sabre52
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Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
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Post by Sabre52 on Jul 21, 2016 20:02:43 GMT -5
Wheel bugs are wicked looking critters! The chemical produced by the assassin bugs ( Reduvid) group is not pleasant when injected into a human too. I have a heck of a reaction to some of the larger species. Worse than a bark scorpion sting by far. Feels like being injected with acid. Have not experienced the wheel bugs bite but got tagged by a big reduvid in Arizona one time. Experience was way not fun....Mel
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jul 22, 2016 4:57:24 GMT -5
Got tagged on my foot by a giant water bug when I was a little kid. I wound up with a hole the size of a marble in my heel. HURT ?? YOU BETCHA ! I had stepped on a Giant water bug causing him to sting. Or more accurately inject. I thought I had stepped on a nail. Or a hypodermic that injected salt water. Felt violated, knew something was wrong. The zone of damaged or poisoned area was several square inches. Recovery slow and recovery of adjacent flesh was in question. Frightening experience. I have worked in wetlands for many years. In recent years my skin has gotten thinner(late 50's). When harvesting plants stings from other aquatic insects occur more often. Whirligigs and Naiads will pop you too. Whirligigs pop my wife. she will fill a tub with water to lay in on hot days. Whirligigs can fly and within hours a couple of them will land in her pool. Loudest critter on earth pound for pound: "Water Boatman Water boatmen make interesting aquarium pets, and they have an unusual method for producing sounds to attract mates. Their sounds are rather quiet to observers standing near the aquarium, but their loud calls are quite powerful underwater. Scientists have recently determined that these insects produce the loudest sounds relative to their body size in the entire animal kingdom. Water boatmen subsist on algae and other organic debris found along the bottom of their habitat." Other aquatic bugs: Whirligig Beetles Whirligig beetles get their name from their habit of swimming around in rapid circles on the surface of small ponds and rivers. However, the small beetles are also quite skilled at swimming underwater, which helps them capture prey. Whirligig beetles may also serve important ecological roles, as they scavenge dead insects in addition to capturing live prey. Whirligig beetles are capable of locating flying or terrestrial insects that fall into the water by detecting the ripples made by the struggling prey. Dragonfly Naiads While adult dragonflies spend their lives flying above ponds and rivers, the wingless nymphs – called naiads – spend their time underwater. Lacking the external gills of most other aquatic insects, dragonfly nymphs breathe by pumping water into their abdomens, where it passes through a set of internal gills. Naiads are skilled predators that catch prey like minnows, other insects and small frogs. Diving Beetles Like many other aquatic insects, diving beetles are active predators that spend much of their time foraging for prey. However, as captives, they often accept commercial fish flakes as a food source. Some species bear attractive colors, which can help to make your tank look more interesting. When frightened, diving beetles may exude a milky liquid that presumably deters predators. Unlike some other species, which have rather short life spans, diving beetles can live for two or three years. Predacious diving beetles can remain underwater for extended periods of time by trapping air bubbles between their wings and body. Captive Care Keeping most aquatic insects for pets is relatively simple. Use a 10-gallon aquarium for the enclosure, and fill the bottom with smooth river rocks. Add an air stone to keep the oxygen levels in the water adequate, but a filter is usually unnecessary. Some authorities recommend filling your tank with water from a clean local stream or river, while others recommend using bottled water or dechlorinated tap water. Add a few branches and live plants to provide the critters with places to hide and climb. Cover the aquarium with a screened lid and tape up all openings, as many aquatic insects are escape artists that are capable of flight. Warning Warning: Always use caution when handling water bugs, as some forms can deliver a very painful bite. |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jul 22, 2016 5:04:37 GMT -5
see images "Aquatic Hemipterans"
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