This very strange looking insect just showed up in our garden in Baltimore Maryland. It's got a strange, Mantis-like shape. If you look closely, it also has a small metallic plate on it's lower back.
The third image gives a good view of the metallic plate, along with a view of the bug eating a Japanese Beetle (something we were very happy to see; Japanese Beetles are a nightmare for roses). Can anybody tell me what it is?
This is the Wheelbug (Arilus cristatus), one of the assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/559777/bgimage
your photos are awesome, especially that third one! you have a really good bug there!
Excellent. Thanks for the ID, flatpickit. The Japanese Beetles disappeared completely from our plants when these guys showed up, and now they seem to be acquiring a taste for Stink Bugs. We're being overrun right now, so I look forward to seeing more Wheel bugs around.
your photos are awesome, especially that third one! you have a really good bug there!
I have a friend who got these bugs" assassin" in his house. He was near 90 years old and had not noticed the bugs in his home. They were biting him during the night. He got several real big wheps all over his body. He cought one on his arm and took it to his Dr. who also ID it as "Kissing Bug" but AKA "assassin bug" Please watch out for their bite.
you're thinking of the Conenose Bug, Triatoma: http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/aimg53.html
different insect entirely.
You are so right, sorry my mistake
no problem!
