Wheel Bug Nymph
I bought my girlfriend a Nikon D40x for her birthday, and we decided to try it out on Wednesday. We went for a nature walk in a wetlands park in southwestern ohio, and came upon this little bug sitting on a wooden post. I would have gotten a shot with it so for size, but crawly things give me the willies! I searched and searched for what it could be, and came upon your website. I believe it’s a Wheel bug Nymph, but I could be wrong! Thanks,
Drew

Hi Drew,
Yes, your are correct. This is a Wheel Bug Nymph. We hope your lucky girlfriend gets to take many more wonderful photos with her fabulous birthday gift.

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beetle? in Minnesota…sorry
Dear Bugman,
These bugs seem to come out of nowhere. I’ve tried to i.d. them without adding to your long list of requests, but no luck. Thanks so much for this great website. It’s terrific.
Morgan in Minnesota

Hi Morgan,
This is not a beetle. It is an Assassin Bug known as the Masked Hunter, Reduvius personatus. The immature insects are sticky and attract lint, masking them from potential enemies. Masked Hunters are predators and one of their favorite foods are Bed Bugs, making Masked Hunters welcome additions in the home. According to BugGuide: “Adults can inflict a painful bite if mishandled. Individuals may occasionally enter homes in search of invertebrate prey but they have no interest in humans, do not feed on blood, and do not transmit any diseases.”

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Any information regarding this specimen would be much appreciated. I found the little guy in my basement. At first I thought it was a small spider (it moved like a spider as well). It also rights itself when on it’s back similar to a crayfish of lobster. Weird little thing eh Thanks for your time,
Dave from Winnipeg, Canada

Hi Dave,
This is a Masked Bedbug Hunter, one of the Assassin Bugs. Immature Masked Hunters are sticky and all manner of lint sticks to them and masks them.

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Can you identify this?
Hi – can you help?
Over the last few years we’ve found three or four of these in our home. As it’s an old house (about 300 years old) I’m a bit worried that they might might be doing damage to hidden woodwork, but I don’t want to harm them if possible. They don’t seem to have any wings, and mostly they don’t move although they can shift fast when they need to. They have flattened concave bodies and flattened limbs, and they almost look as though they’re covered in dust. I’ve tried to identify them from keys and from pictures, including those on your wonderful site, but I haven’t got anywhere.
Mike

Hi Mike,
This is a species of Assassin Bug known as a Masked Bedbug Hunter, Reduvius personatus. The immature insects have a sticky surface that collects dust and lint, masking them.

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I think this is a Wheel Bug. Your site rocks! THANK YOU! Animals in general are awe inspiring. Arthropods are especially interesting. Enjoy!
neanderpaul

Dear Neanderpaul,
Yes, this is a Wheel Bug. As a point of clarification, Wheel Bugs are Assassin Bugs, but they are not beetles. True Bugs have incomplete metamorphosis where nymphs look like adults, and beetles have a complete, four stage metamorphosis.

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