Subject: Giant Alien Bug of Texas
Geographic location of the bug: Sugar Land, TX (Near Houston)
Date: 07/06/2018
Time: 02:25 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: Dear Sir,
Can you tell me what kind of bug this is and a brief synopsis about it?
How you want your letter signed: Thanks, Joy Z
Dear Joy Z,
This is a beneficial, predatory Wheel Bug, Arilus cristatus, the largest of the North American Assassin Bugs. Though beneficial, like other Assassin Bugs, a Wheel Bug might bite if carelessly handled, but they are not aggressive. We get so many identification requests for Wheel Bugs, the species has been selected our Bug of the Month three times, in November 2008, November 2010 and for Halloween in 2014.
It’s one scary looking thing, THAT is for SURE! Thank you!
This is our favorite image of a Wheel Bug ever.
That’s enough to keep me up at night (hahaha)