Good Guy Can Put The Hurt On You !!!

ContainerTed · June 2, 2015

This morning, I got bitten by a Wheel Bug Baby and let me state right now that you can get full enjoyment out of the baby's bite. You really and truly don't need to find an adult.

The bite was to the end of my right hand ring finger right on the tip = just under the nail. It took about 3 seconds for the pain to start, but it came in a hurry and stayed for about a half hour.

Here's a picture I found with Bing. It was only about 3/8" long and that included the legs. But the pain was full grown as far as I am concerned.

KarenO · June 2, 2015

yowch.! under the fingernail...

KO

AlittleSalt · June 2, 2015

Ted, is this the same kind of bug? We have a boat-load of them this year.

Bipetual · June 2, 2015

Dang, that's pretty wicked-looking. It sounds like you are familiar with it, which I guess is an advantage, as opposed to one of those mystery bites where you're wondering if you should call the doctor if it doesn't quit swelling. Was it poisonous? Will it cause a flesh eating wound? You know, those kinds of happy thoughts!

Still, I hope it gets better soon. Does not sound too pleasant!

heirloomtomaguy · June 2, 2015

Looks like an assasin bug. They usually only bite when threatened but live taking a bite out of bad garden bugs.

ContainerTed · June 2, 2015

Yep, that's the other name for it - Assassin Bug. It's beneficial to our gardens. Its real name is Wheel Bug. The one that bit me was a baby.

Yes, Salty, your picture is of an adult. They mostly eat other "non - beneficial" bugs in our gardens.

My advice is to just leave them alone and let them do their thing. You really don't want to mess with those guys. Their venom causes pain - lots of it. However, unless you get into a panic and have a heart attack or something, the pain will subside after a while and the event is over. No need to head to the ER or call 911

pauldavid · June 3, 2015

I am not familiar with this insect. They can be beneficial apparently, but not in this case. Ouch!

Starlight · June 3, 2015

They can give you a wicked bite, but they are beneficial. It seems the babies are more aggressive than the adults and are also harder to spot.

I have a bunch that hatched on my tomatoes this year and they are guarding them tomatoes like crazy. I am using a little stick to move some leaves around before sticking my hands on the plants to scout for bug eggs and other pests.

While the bite hurts, they are very interesting to watch if you stick a little stick or something by them, watching them raise up and try to defend their area. Ted is right, the bite hurts, reminds me of a bee sting, but it does stop.

Worth1 · June 3, 2015

I've been telling folks for years these things bite.
They have a dont mess with me attitude.

Worth

ContainerTed · June 3, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

I've been telling folks for years these things bite.
They have a dont mess with me attitude.

Worth

Yeah, Worth, and these guys have a "Chuck Norris" version of how to hit back. I think I've been hurt less by taking a catfish spur in the hand.

Kazfam · June 7, 2015

Yes...painful bite...Assassin Bug nymphs hurt too.

Wheel Bug and Assassin Bug adults hurt as well.

Not aggressive but will protect itself.

Excellent beneficial insect.

ContainerTed · June 7, 2015

Found an adult this morning on the grapes. It was about 1 1/2" long, gray/black, orange tipped antenna, and it flew off toward the beans. I thought back on the pain the nymph caused and gave this adult a lot of respect.

Now, don't get me wrong. I have a fairly high tolerance for pain and am able to "will" a lot of pain away by concentrating on it. This species has a type of pain that I have not encountered much before. It was like shoving a hypodermic needle into the end of your finger and then pumping in some kind of acid.

If I find they kill Colorado Potato Beetles, I may start raising them.

June 2, 2015	#5
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	Looks like an assasin bug. They usually only bite when threatened but live taking a bite out of bad garden bugs. __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

June 2, 2015	#6
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Yep, that's the other name for it - Assassin Bug. It's beneficial to our gardens. Its real name is Wheel Bug. The one that bit me was a baby. Yes, Salty, your picture is of an adult. They mostly eat other "non - beneficial" bugs in our gardens. My advice is to just leave them alone and let them do their thing. You really don't want to mess with those guys. Their venom causes pain - lots of it. However, unless you get into a panic and have a heart attack or something, the pain will subside after a while and the event is over. No need to head to the ER or call 911 __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

June 7, 2015	#11
Kazfam Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Upstate South Carolina Posts: 113	Ouch... Yes...painful bite...Assassin Bug nymphs hurt too. Wheel Bug and Assassin Bug adults hurt as well. Not aggressive but will protect itself. Excellent beneficial insect. __________________ God Almighty first planted a garden, and indeed it is the purest of human pleasures. It is the greatest refreshment of the spirit of man, without which buildings and palaces are but gross handiwork. Francis Bacon

June 7, 2015	#12
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Found an adult this morning on the grapes. It was about 1 1/2" long, gray/black, orange tipped antenna, and it flew off toward the beans. I thought back on the pain the nymph caused and gave this adult a lot of respect. Now, don't get me wrong. I have a fairly high tolerance for pain and am able to "will" a lot of pain away by concentrating on it. This species has a type of pain that I have not encountered much before. It was like shoving a hypodermic needle into the end of your finger and then pumping in some kind of acid. If I find they kill Colorado Potato Beetles, I may start raising them. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

June 2, 2015	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,932	yowch.! under the fingernail... KO

June 2, 2015	#4
Bipetual Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Illinois, zone 5a Posts: 579	Dang, that's pretty wicked-looking. It sounds like you are familiar with it, which I guess is an advantage, as opposed to one of those mystery bites where you're wondering if you should call the doctor if it doesn't quit swelling. Was it poisonous? Will it cause a flesh eating wound? You know, those kinds of happy thoughts! Still, I hope it gets better soon. Does not sound too pleasant!

June 3, 2015	#7
pauldavid Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NE Louisiana, Zone 8A Posts: 1,179	I am not familiar with this insect. They can be beneficial apparently, but not in this case. Ouch!

June 3, 2015	#8
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	They can give you a wicked bite, but they are beneficial. It seems the babies are more aggressive than the adults and are also harder to spot. I have a bunch that hatched on my tomatoes this year and they are guarding them tomatoes like crazy. I am using a little stick to move some leaves around before sticking my hands on the plants to scout for bug eggs and other pests. While the bite hurts, they are very interesting to watch if you stick a little stick or something by them, watching them raise up and try to defend their area. Ted is right, the bite hurts, reminds me of a bee sting, but it does stop.

June 3, 2015	#9
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I've been telling folks for years these things bite. They have a dont mess with me attitude. Worth