Assassin Bugs | What's That Bug?

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Bee Assassin

This but is eating my bees
Location: Liberty Hill, Texas, USA
May 11, 2011 2:39 pm
Hi bugman,
I am trying to find out what type of bug this is. They are hanging out at my bee hive, grabing one bee and then flying off with it in there mouth.
Do you know what kind of bug this is and how i can keep them away from my bees?
Thank you
++ Paul Dunlap
Signature: Paul Dunlap

Bee Assassin

Dear Paul,
This is one of the Assassin Bugs in the genus Apiomerus and they are commonly called Bee Assassins. We believe it is Apiomerus spissipes and you can compare the photos on BugGuide to your specimen.

Thank you very much. This is exactly what it is!!
Thanks again.
++ Paul

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¶ Posted 12 May 2011 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Introduced Red Assassin Bug in Hawaii

Black and red Hemipteran
Location: Honolulu, HI
May 10, 2011 4:26 pm
Hello~ Long-time reader, first-time sender. I fancy myself a bit of an entomology geek, and usually I can ID things without much of a problem, but this little one is giving me a spot of trouble.
When my father called me out to find this odd bug outside, my first impression was a milkweed bug of some type, but I very quickly changed my mind upon getting out my field guides. I’ve seen Red-shouldered bugs around here before, but this is the first time I’ve seen this one.
After some searching, the closest thing I could find is the genus Rhinocoris, but I’m having a hard time narrowing it down further, if that’s even correct to begin with.
Being in Hawaii, we play host to a lot of introduced species from all over the world, so I imagine that’s why I’m not finding it in any of my North American field guides (inevitably the only ones available at bookstores).
Apologies for the giant photos; I was impressed with the camera, since I’d never tried to use it to take such close-ups before. Though, these don’t really do justice to how fine and rich the red pigment in this little bug really is.
Signature: Crystal

Red Assassin Bug

Hi Crystal,
Almost exactly one year ago to the day, we first received an image of this species from Hawaii that was eventually identified by entomologist Frank Howarth from the Bishop Museum as an Asian Assassin Bug that feeds upon Millipedes, Haematoloecha rubescens. The species was believed to have been introduced to Hawaii in the 1970s. It is commonly called the Red Assassin Bug. Its aposomatic coloration is a warning sign, and if carelessly handled, it will most likely bite a human.

Red Assassin Bug

Wow! Thank you very much for the response! I wasn’t sure where exactly to start, so I just went into the general True Bug category. I guess I didn’t go back deep enough to find this. I’m also glad (and, I guess, also lucky) that I didn’t get bitten, because I was handling it a fair amount (though by ‘handling’ I mean ‘letting it walk all over my hand while looking for a container’). Good to know, now I’ll be extra careful if I see more of these around.
Thanks again!

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¶ Posted 11 May 2011 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Wheel Bug Hatchlings

What is this!
Location: Coastal Plains area of North Carolina
May 9, 2011 10:26 am
I was in Wallace North Carolina when I saw these little things all over the tree in my aunts front yard. I’ve never seen this kind of bug before. I snapped a few pictures of it. They live in a colony like ants, and they seem to be carnivorous.
Signature: Darrick Williams

Wheel Bug Hatchlings

Dear Darrick,
This is a relatively newly hatched brood of Wheel Bugs, the largest Assassin Bug in North America. It is a beneficial predator, though like other Assassin Bugs, it might bite if carelessly handled or if accidentally trapped in clothing. As these hatchlings continue to grow and molt, they will lose the red youthful coloration and they will disperse, becoming solitary hunters. It appears that you also have a different species of Assassin bug on the extreme right side of the photo, or else this might be a freshly molted Wheel Bug. It is difficult to be certain from the photo.

Wheel Bug Hatchling

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¶ Posted 09 May 2011 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Masked Hunter Unmasked

little nipper
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
May 9, 2011 9:10 am
I have seen this bug a few time around where I live in Toronto, Ontario. sometimes they are larger and have a sort of dust appearance, like a moth. this particular beatle like guy was in my wife’s pants leg when she put them on and bit her behind her knee. There was a chunk of skin missing with swelling, not unlike a horsefly bite. During the ensuing mayem the bug got a bit smooshed. After a few hours of curiosity research I am still not sure what it is. Can you assist? thanks!
Signature: Mike from Toronto

Immature Masked Hunter

Hi Mike,
We believe based on your photos and your written description that this is an immature Masked Hunter, Reduvius personatus, a species of Assassin Bug. You can compare your individual to these images posted to BugGuide. The common name Masked Hunter is a reference to the dusty appearance of the immature insects. They have a sticky exoskeleton that attracts lint and dust, which creates a camouflage, effectively masking the appearance of the insect. Your individual is immature as evidenced by the underdeveloped wing pads. It is possible that this is a newly metamorphosed individual that has still not attracted any dust or lint to its new exoskeleton. Masked Hunters are predators, and they are reported to be very effective against Bed Bugs. They do not prey on humans or other warm blooded prey, but if they are carelessly handled or if they are caught in a person’s clothing, the result might be a painful bite like the one experienced by your wife. Though they might bite, Masked Hunters are considered beneficial and they are not dangerous.

well alright! that bug has a pretty badass name, Masked hunter indeed.
Nice to know about another insect that doesn’t have a bad rap with us.
thanks again for your kind attention!
M

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¶ Posted 09 May 2011 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Immature Wheel Bug

What is this ?
Location: Pool Cage – Tampa FL
April 15, 2011 1:24 pm
Hi There,
A friend told me of your site. Trying to identify this spider like bug in my yard. It is near my pool cage. We have never seen them in the 7 years living here. We now have had 8 over the last week. One of them stung my girlfriend on the wrist when she was sitting on the ground. It looked like a small puncture mark. She then had some aching and throbbing of her veins in her wrist. Then she has some discomfort extending up her arm. So, it seems like there is venom. BTW – we live in Tampa FL. Our house does not back into the woods. It is a settled neighborhood and we have houses on all sides of our property. I have spray some concentrated bug killer around the pool cage, but we are still seeing 1-2 per day. Today I killed 2 and I’m going to try seeing if I can find a local exterminator company that I can bring one that I captured in a jar. Any help from you is much appreciated!
Signature: Roy

Wheel Bug Nymph

Dear Roy,
Because Wheel Bugs, Arilus cristatus, have recently hatched in many parts of their range, people are beginning to request identification information. We have posted at least four letters with images of immature Wheel Bugs in the past week. Your letter contains information about your girlfriend being bitten, and we have indicated that we rarely receive reports of people being bitten by Wheel Bugs, but that there is a possibility it will happen. Wheel Bugs are beneficial predators and we would urge you not to spray needless pesticides. We are linking to an image on BugGuide of a Wheel Bug feeding on prey so that you can see the piercing and sucking mouthparts. We are preparing your letter and image in advance to post live during our absence from the office for several days next week.

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¶ Posted 21 April 2011 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Immature Wheel Bug

Weird texas bug
Location: Houston, Texas
April 18, 2011 6:26 pm
I live in NE Houston, Texas, and I have an organic garden. I found this insect on a cucumber plant after having the sprinkler on for an hour or so, so I’m not sure if he was there seeking cover, or he is a pest on the cucumbers. I would like to know if it is a pest, or potentially beneficial, or neutral, I hate picking bugs off plants when I don’t know what they are!
Signature: Jen

Wheel Bug Nymph

Hi Jen,
This is an immature Wheel Bug nymph. We have posted numerous images of immature Wheel Bugs in the past few days, and they have all been submitted from Florida. Wheel Bugs are found in many parts of North America. They are beneficial predators and you should return this individual back to your organic garden.

Wheel Bug Nymph

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¶ Posted 19 April 2011 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Immature Blood Sucking Conenose

I think my child was bitten by this bug
Location: Oklahoma City, OK, USA
April 16, 2011 3:28 pm
Hi, I think my 9 month old was bitten several times on the head by this bug… we found it on the bed skirt of his crib. Two days later, the bites have already almost completely healed, but if you happen to know what this is, and if it’s dangerous, I would sure be grateful!
April, 2011; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Thanks!
Signature: Joshua Brewer

Bloodsucking Conenose Nymph

Dear Joshua,
First of all, we need to divulge that we are artists and we do not have formal entomology backgrounds, nor science backgrounds for that matter. We believe this is an immature Blood Sucking Conenose Bug in the genus Triatoma. Interestingly BugGuide has a matching photo and it is from Oklahoma. You may also read more about Bloodsucking Conenose Bugs on BugGuide, which indicates they are also called Kissing Bugs, Big Bed Bugs, Mexican Bed Bugs or Bellows Bugs. Here is some information from BugGuide: “Generally nidicolous, occurring most often in rodent nests but also in bird nests, logs and man-made structures such as barns, coops, houses; some Neotropical spp. also in caves.” BugGuide also indicates: “Hematophagous, feeding on blood from tetrapods. Most common hosts are mammalian but avian, reptilian and amphibian hosts are recorded. The most common wild hosts are wood rats (Neotoma) but other common ones include armadillos, opossums and raccoons (possibly also skunks); synanthropic species may feed on livestock (horses, cattle, chickens), pets and humans.” More importantly for you, the: “Bite can cause severe allergic reaction in many humans. Bite and defecation into bite can transmit Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan. The most notorious vector is T. infestans, found in South America. The North American species are not normally thought to transmit the disease, though they can carry the parasite. (The North American species do not normally defecate at the site of the bite, which is what actually transmits the parasite–see Kissing bugs (Triatoma) and the skin. The CDC site says that rare vector-borne cases of Chagas disease have been noted in the so. US.” Though we do not believe you need to worry about your child contracting Chagas Disease, however, we are not medical professionals and we feel a trip to the doctor might not be a bad idea.

Daniel,
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my query. To be honest, I did not expect to receive a response with the number of emails you guys must get in a day. But to get an answer back on the same day I submitted my question… amazing!
Thanks again for your time.
- Joshua W. Brewer

Hi again Joshua,
While it is true that we are unable to respond to all the mail that we receive, since we update the website on a daily basis, we do try make a few new postings each day. This particular posting is also a public service notice of some importance and we would have been remiss to read it and then ignore it. Your gratitude is appreciated.

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¶ Posted 16 April 2011 § ‡ Comments (0) °

Wheel Bug Nymph

Unknown evil looking bug
Location: Jacksonville, FL
April 14, 2011 8:18 pm
Hello Bugman,
I found this nasty buggy on my car today and would really like to know what he is. Or was, rather. I drove to the store with him on my car, figuring he’d get swept off on the ride, but the little bugger help on like a champ, only to be thwarted when I opened the back hatch. He may still be alive, only separated from his possible family that might possibly live in my yard. I just moved to Jax, Fl from Denver and would love to know if my life is now going to be filled with these types of encounters every day. *gulp*
Thank you so very much for your time,
Amy
Signature: Amy

Wheel Bug Nymph

Hi Amy,
This is a Wheel Bug Nymph, a beneficial predator, and it is the third identification request we are posting from Florida this morning. Previous inquiries describe the Wheel Bug nymph as beautiful and hideous, and you believe it to be evil looking. Your Wheel Bug nymph is younger than the other two individuals. The red color of this early instar nymph will soon vanish. Very young Wheel Bugs are often mistaken for spiders, and hatchlings tend to stay together at first, separating shortly after hatching. Wheel Bugs are capable of biting, though we do not receive many reports of people being bitten by them. You have moved to Florida, and we expect you will be encountering many unusual insects. We hope you will use our website to distinguish the beneficial species from the problematic species.

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¶ Posted 15 April 2011 § ‡ Comments (0) °