Thanks to our loyal reader and friend Rudi Halbrichter from
Toronto, who is a world travelled nature expert, I have to make a
correction. He pointed out that the
assumed stinkbug we discovered sitting under our awning was in fact quite an
aggressive and dangerous little bugger called (Arilus cristatus) or commonly
called a Wheel Bug.
Checking the Internet I found several websites and the "Featured Creatures" site, which I include, gave me a lot of information. The Wheel Bug belongs to a mean family of bugs
called kissing bugs, assassin bugs, vampire bugs etc., reaching lengths of up
to 1.5 inches, which was about the size of the specimen we found. It preys on
pest insects and in fact attacks the brown marmorated stinkbug we thought we
had captured. They are feeding at night and are attracted by light, hence since
we found it on the LED strip below the awning. Its bite, when inflicted, can be
more severe than a bee, wasp, or hornet sting. No wonder, as the number of
teeth vary from 8 to 12. (Really?) Wheel bug saliva contains a toxic, paralytic
substance that immobilizes and kills the prey insect within 15 to 30 seconds of
injection.
It goes without saying that this bug should be avoided or
handled with caution.
However, Wikipedia states that Wheel bugs are highly
regarded by organic gardeners because they consume a variety of insects and
their presence indicates a healthy, pesticide-fee ecosystem.
So there you have it.
Hopefully I wont come across another one. Yuck!
Double yuck! We have seen big bugs too usually AFTER they get inside and just last night Bill killed one. It looked like it had wings like a moth but about 1 1/2" long and long antennae. Glad we got it DEAD is all I can say!
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