What is it Wednesday: November 3, 2021

 

Can you identify what's in this photo?

 

 

Each Wednesday morning 

on Camp Lutherlyn's Facebook page

 the Lutherlyn Environmental Education Program posts a photo. 

 

 

Readers have all morning and afternoon 

to make their best guess about what the photo is. 

 

Around 6 pm LEEP provides the answer and a brief explanation.

 

 

Each week's What is it Wednesday post 

will also be posted on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

 after it is posted on Facebook,

sometimes with additional bonus information. 

 

In addition to bringing you current editions of What is it Wednesday 

on the Nature of Lutherlyn blog, 

we will be reposting old editions,

creating a What is it Wednesday archive. 

 

This photo was posted as a What is it Wednesday on

November 3, 2021. 

 

 

 

And the answer is....

 

 This large insect is a wheel bug, found in Lutherlyn’s garden at Terra Dei.

The wheel bug is named for its armored crest between the head and abdomen that looks like a wheel with cogs. It is the only insect in this area to have such a crest. 

Adult wheel bugs are large – about an inch and a half long, with a wide and thick abdomen. The nymphs are much smaller, have an arched back, and when young are black with a bright red abdomen. We see the nymphs often on the grapevines at Terra Dei, but the adults are well camouflaged and seldom seen.

Wheel bugs are a type of assassin bug – predatory insects that eat other insects. Some of the insects wheel bugs eat are major garden pests like Japanese beetles and cabbage worms, so despite their intimidating appearance, we love having them around in the garden! Wheel bugs are aggressive predators, but are not aggressive towards humans. However, like most critters, they will bite if disturbed, and have a very painful bite! The bite has been described as more painful than wasp stings, with pain followed by numbness, and discomfort lasting for two weeks. (Despite its unpleasantness, the bite causes no long term damage unless it is infected or causes an allergic reaction.) As we put the garden to bed for the winter it is nice to know helpers like these are around to help keep our garden healthy! 

Like and follow Camp Lutherlyn on Facebook, to see What is it Wednesday posts when they come out and have the opportunity to share your guesses in the comments!