Wheel bug. Injects soft bugs with saliva that dissolve flesh

Badass

Kills stink bugs?
I'll take a couple dozen.

Stink bugs are a big problem in Ohio this year.
Send a LFRB of wheel bugs. LOL Hey would be 1lb. In no time.
Dale

I thought so, A wheel bug is a type of assasin bug. Wheel bugs, assasin bugs are in Ohio. Relatives are the kissing bug, wheel bug, assasin bug and I'm sure there are more. Nice

A couple of years ago I got bit by a giant water bug on my foot. Similar to having blood poison as the poison followed a vein up my leg.
They have a similar proboscis but inject enough poison to kill frogs fish turtles.
The have long strong arms to hold their prey while they ram they probe into flesh.
From images

Certainly a beneficial insect for garden. A shy bug but a real killer.
Injection of digestive fluid for live breakdown of prey's body, stone cold.
Insect world Jurassic.

Sat on buttocks w/old lady on front porch last night and did dusk and close ups.
Got used to Olympus menu logistics.
Well organized Jim. But has sub menu and sub sub menus that are a bit more camouflaged.
still got a long way to go.

impressed with performance. Micro may be the highest performance setting. It is off the chart.
micro utilizes the 4.5mm very short focal length section of the zoom.

Typical camera focal lengths, 18mm a typical close fixed macro. Less than that is going toward micro. But can be a bit more complicated for zoom.

Got tagged on my foot by a giant water bug when I was a little kid. I wound up with a hole the size of a marble in my heel.

HURT ??

YOU BETCHA !

I had stepped on a Giant water bug causing him to sting. Or more accurately inject.
I thought I had stepped on a nail. Or a hypodermic that injected salt water.
Felt violated, knew something was wrong. The zone of damaged or poisoned area was several square inches.
Recovery slow and recovery of adjacent flesh was in question. Frightening experience.

I have worked in wetlands for many years. In recent years my skin has gotten thinner(late 50's).
When harvesting plants stings from other aquatic insects occur more often.
Whirligigs and Naiads will pop you too.

Whirligigs pop my wife. she will fill a tub with water to lay in on hot days.
Whirligigs can fly and within hours a couple of them will land in her pool.


Loudest critter on earth pound for pound:

"Water Boatman

Water boatmen make interesting aquarium pets, and they have an unusual method for producing sounds to attract mates. Their sounds are rather quiet to observers standing near the aquarium, but their loud calls are quite powerful underwater. Scientists have recently determined that these insects produce the loudest sounds relative to their body size in the entire animal kingdom. Water boatmen subsist on algae and other organic debris found along the bottom of their habitat."


Other aquatic bugs:

Whirligig Beetles

Whirligig beetles get their name from their habit of swimming around in rapid circles on the surface of small ponds and rivers. However, the small beetles are also quite skilled at swimming underwater, which helps them capture prey. Whirligig beetles may also serve important ecological roles, as they scavenge dead insects in addition to capturing live prey. Whirligig beetles are capable of locating flying or terrestrial insects that fall into the water by detecting the ripples made by the struggling prey.

Dragonfly Naiads

While adult dragonflies spend their lives flying above ponds and rivers, the wingless nymphs – called naiads – spend their time underwater. Lacking the external gills of most other aquatic insects, dragonfly nymphs breathe by pumping water into their abdomens, where it passes through a set of internal gills. Naiads are skilled predators that catch prey like minnows, other insects and small frogs.

Diving Beetles

Like many other aquatic insects, diving beetles are active predators that spend much of their time foraging for prey. However, as captives, they often accept commercial fish flakes as a food source. Some species bear attractive colors, which can help to make your tank look more interesting. When frightened, diving beetles may exude a milky liquid that presumably deters predators. Unlike some other species, which have rather short life spans, diving beetles can live for two or three years. Predacious diving beetles can remain underwater for extended periods of time by trapping air bubbles between their wings and body.

Captive Care

Keeping most aquatic insects for pets is relatively simple. Use a 10-gallon aquarium for the enclosure, and fill the bottom with smooth river rocks. Add an air stone to keep the oxygen levels in the water adequate, but a filter is usually unnecessary. Some authorities recommend filling your tank with water from a clean local stream or river, while others recommend using bottled water or dechlorinated tap water. Add a few branches and live plants to provide the critters with places to hide and climb. Cover the aquarium with a screened lid and tape up all openings, as many aquatic insects are escape artists that are capable of flight.

Warning

Warning: Always use caution when handling water bugs, as some forms can deliver a very painful bite.