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Newly Metamorphosed Wheel Bug

Posted by bugman June 16th, 2009 at 11:41 am

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Assassin Bugs

Colorful orange bug found in Tennessee
Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 9:12 AM
Hi there. I just found your fantastic website. I love it! I dug out this old photo of a bug I saw when walking on a mountain Trail in Tennessee one summer several years back. This bug was about an inch and a half long, moved very slowly and so bright orange that I could not miss it. What do you think?
MB, Butler, PA
Tennessee Mountains

Freshly Molted Wheel Bug

Freshly Molted Wheel Bug

Hi MB,
We are certain that this is an Assassin Bug, and are nearly certain that it is a newly metamorphosed Wheel Bug, Arilus cristatus.  When Wheel Bugs first metamorphose into adults, they are orange, but as the exoskeleton hardens, it darkens to dark gray or black.  We found a matching image on BugGuide to support our identification.

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