Halloween Insect (some sort of mantis?)
Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania
August 24, 2011 6:32 pm
My father found this insect outside a Halloween store here in Pennsylvania about 7 years ago (October 18, 2004, to be exact). A Halloween store seemed like an appropriate place to find such a weird-looking insect! I’ve never seen another one like it. We’ve always wondered what it is.
Signature: RickMK
Dear Rick
After seven years, you can stop losing any sleep. This is a Wheel Bug.
I have been seeing these bugs in my area recently.
I witnessed one of these bugs feeding on a late stage nymph of the spotted lanternfly approximately two months ago in my back yard in Shartlesville, PA.
Perhaps our predatory native species will help control the spread of the invasive Spotted Lanternfly
I live about 20 miles from St. Louis, Mo. Had a wheel bug on my porch! First time to see or notice one. I’ve lived here about 10 years.