Key Features
- Short stout beak
- Narrow head and flat back
- Ring of spines on back (wheel bugs)
Symptoms
Assassin bugs are beneficial insects that prey on many pests, but sometimes feed on other beneficials as well. They have a long, tube-like proboscis that they use to stab and kill their prey. This proboscis is usually folded under its head. These insects do not cause damage to flowers. One species, the wheel bug, is one of the most striking and commonly encountered in the group. This predator has a cog-like wheel protruding from its back which gives it its unique name. Wheel bugs are gray with brown antennae. Be especially careful handling this bug as it could stab your hand.
Biology
There are many species of assassin bugs. Each has a spear-like mouth tucked under their head that can be flipped forward to pierce the body of its prey and inject it with digestive enzymes. After the contents of its prey have been liquified, the assassin bug uses this spear-like mouth as a straw to suck out the insides of the captured victim. Most species lay their eggs in clusters on leaves. Nymphs hatch out of the eggs and begin preying on other insects. The nymphal stage superficially resembles the adult stage, but is smaller and lacks functional wings.
Management Recommendations
Assassin bugs are beneficial insects that eat pests. They should not be killed.
Effective Pesticides
Pesticides are neither available nor recommended for managing this pest.
Resources
- Not satisfied with ID? Contact the Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab
- Sign Up for the Purdue Landscape Report
