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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Cimicomorpha » Assassin Bugs (Reduviidae) » Harpactorinae » Harpactorini » Wheel Bugs (Arilus) » North American Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus)
Photo#78524
Stegosaurus bug? - Arilus cristatus
Copyright © 2006 Lynda

Stegosaurus bug? - Arilus cristatus
Buena Vista, Rockbridge County, Virginia, USA
September 16, 2006
Size: about 1.25 in. long
What is this strange creature?!
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Contributed by Lynda on 21 September, 2006 - 4:53pm
Last updated 14 July, 2007 - 4:54pm

Looks like
a violin bow on which the bug is sitting. Wheel Bug Sonata for Strings...and a neat image!
… Hartmut Wisch, 25 October, 2006 - 8:58am login or register to post comments

Stegosaurus Wheel Bug
Not quite a dinosaur, but this wheel bug is a wheely wheely cool bug!
I've come across of few of them during the past year, and each has held my attention for as long as it has been willing to remain in front of my camera. I even had one willing to sit for a video clip. Minus the large cog on its back, it looks rather like an oversized assassin bug.
… Stanley Lessig, 21 September, 2006 - 11:22pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks!
Thanks, everyone, for the ID on the wheel bug! He was an amazing critter... my husband had him climbing all over his hand while I took photos, too. Now I read that they can inflict a painful stab if they want to. He must have known we were just admiring his beauty, haha!
Lynda
… Lynda, 23 September, 2006 - 3:02pm login or register to post comments

 
Well, Arilus cristatus
Well, Arilus cristatus is an oversized assassin bug.
… Noor Beckwith, 22 September, 2006 - 12:48pm login or register to post comments

wheel bug
lol... check it out in the guide...:D... although i like your thought
… Andrew Meeds, 21 September, 2006 - 4:59pm login or register to post comments

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