 Cloudbridge
Nature Reserve - Nature
Notes No. 26
The Wheel Bug has some of the best-developed mouthparts of any True Bug. Its formidable orange beak (see picture below) arises at the anterior end of its long tubular head and unfolds forward. When it encounters a prey item -- usually some adult insect or caterpillar -- it typically lunges forward in its own deliberate way, grabs onto the prey with its front legs, and buries its hypodermic beak into some soft body part of the hapless prey. The Wheel Bug then injects enzyme-laden saliva, which immobilizes the prey within 30 seconds and turns its parts into porridge. Then -- the predatory bug sucks out all the victim's bodily fluids! This activity, of course, kills the prey item, which is why the Wheel Bug is classified in the Reduviidae -- the Assassin Bug Family. It's worth noting that Wheel Bugs aren't all that particular about where they stick their beaks -- which is fair warning that humans should use appropriate care when handling one. "When disturbed, the wheel bug can
inflict a painful bite. The bite has been described variously as worse
than stings from bees, wasps, or hornets. In general, initial pain
often is followed by numbness for several days. The afflicted area
often becomes reddened and hot to the touch, but later may become white
and hardened at the puncture area. Occasionally, a hard core may slough
off, leaving a small hole at the puncture site. Healing time varies but
usually takes two weeks and may take half a year." Source: http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/wheel_bug.htm Behold the Wheel Bug in action:
|
