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Submitted by: Moni

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Emily There have been several of these critters sited in the south recently on Insect Id. This is a wheel bug nymph which is considered a beneficial insect. It is scouting for insects to eat in your garden. As it grows it will molt a few times and turn into a large gray bug with a spiky looking 'wheel' on its backside behind the head. As it gets to be an adult you would not want to pick it up as it reportedly bites with its long piercing sucking mouth parts and if so it is said to be very painful. Here is a website with more information about the insect and at the bottom of the page about treating its bite. http://bugguide.net/node/view/454 You have a photo of a wheel bug nymph or young stage of a large bug known as the Wheel bug. The nymphs and adults are great predators to have in the garden to get rid of caterpillars, aphids, etc. They overwinter in the egg stage then emerge in spring to grow into the adults. There is just one generation per year. CAUTION: The adult wheelbug is reported to inflict a very painful bite. It has been reported use of ammonia water or Epsom salts is helpful in relieving pain from the bite. Here is a site for more information: http://bugguide.net/node/view/454

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