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I know that assassin bugs are popular, but does anyone keep the related wheel bug (Arilus cristatus)?
Arilus cristatus
- Thread starter galeogirl
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im pretty sure i've read a thread here about these recently, have a search on this board
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I've kept them, they're fun to keep. Hard to breed for some reason. Wild collected adult females will lay eggs, but those reared from nymphs never seem to even if plenty of both sexes are present. I found a bunch hatching last spring and raised them to adulthood, and none laid eggs even though I saw them mating. A lone adult female that was collected in the fall, however, promptly laid a batch of eggs a few days after capture! I'm not sure why captive reared specimens don't seem to lay eggs, but I suspect it has something to do with the amount of light and heat they get. I've noticed that in the wild they can often be seen hunting in the broad daylight, so if these eggs hatch I'm going to try raising the nymphs with better light. They may need added heat for egg production.
Although wheel bugs are assassins, they lay eggs differently than the popular red spot, white spots, etc. Instead of dropping eggs randomly on the ground, they glue a cluster of eggs to the side of a tree or other surface.
Wade
Although wheel bugs are assassins, they lay eggs differently than the popular red spot, white spots, etc. Instead of dropping eggs randomly on the ground, they glue a cluster of eggs to the side of a tree or other surface.
Wade
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Maybe a full-spectrum light would be useful with them then, giving them day and night cycles that coincide with the season.
I was just looking at photos of them online last night and realized that I'd never seen any offered for sale.
I was just looking at photos of them online last night and realized that I'd never seen any offered for sale.
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I twouldn't surprise me if full spectrum light would help. I may just try to position their cage near one of my reptiles with full spectrum light and see what happens.galeogirl said:
Like many interesting native insects, I think wheel bugs are often overlooked by many American hobbyists in favor of exotics. I'm often amazed with the wonders we have in our own back yards.
Wade
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I've reared up Arilus and had them lay hundreds and hundreds of eggs but the eggs shrivel up and die.
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too right!Wade said:
Ive kept a lot of UK bugs, but yours in America are so much more exciting - if i lived there, you wouldnt be able to stop me bug hunting!
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I like going hiking and looking for bugs and herps around here. I don't usually bring any home with me, but it's fun to go searching for them all the same.
When I still had a back yard, I would sometimes catch the tiny native centipedes and observe them for a day or two before letting them go.
When I still had a back yard, I would sometimes catch the tiny native centipedes and observe them for a day or two before letting them go.
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I also capture "native" insects, breed them and than release.
Large part of my collection are polish beetles and other invertebrates. I think that they are sometimes more intresting than many "tropicals".
Large part of my collection are polish beetles and other invertebrates. I think that they are sometimes more intresting than many "tropicals".
yes i have one in a jar only cause it bit the hell out of my arm, im still trying to figure out if its the same one that gives the chagas disease, i just move to NC and noone seems to know........its frustrating wondering if im infected or not.....
ive reared them aswell,and the eggs hatched out,there were alot i mean alot of nymphs,maybe being in fla w/humidity they had no problem hatching.they are awesome bugs!
what do you know about the immature assassin or wheelbug beetleman? i posted a pic on the arachnoboard gallery of the one that bit me , maybe you can shed some light on my question of wether or not it give that chagas disease? i would appreciate it .
the only assassin as far as i know is the bloodsucking conenose(triatoma sanguisuga) that carries chagas disease,threw it's feces,(feeds on warmblooded mammals)but the 1 you got bit by is the wheelbug(arilus cristatus)which feeds on insects,and as far as i know there has never been an incident of the wheelbug having any diseases,some people can get different reactions to the bite ofcourse,it depends on your body on how it reacts. hope this helps alittle,there is a thread about the conenose on here somewhere not too far down that someone found the conenose.
no problem
you will live!!!!!!! yes wheelbugs are assassins also,their structure,and the proboscus(spelling)their "beak"
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Just found and captured an adult Arilus cristatus aka wheelbug on the wall. I was wondering how to sex this species? Also are they arboreal or terrestral? because I am currently housing it on some cork bark and in a deli cup with a small waterdish. I don't see very much written as far as care and housing on this species so any input in that area would be appreciated as well.
Brian
Brian
they are arboreal, corkbark works great for climbing,keep it alittle on the dry side,light misting 1-2x week,crickets,roaches just about any insect it will eat,waterdish really don't need one,it will drink from the sides.females are alittle more robust/bigger than males,hope this helps alittle,awesome bug enjoy!
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Thanks beetleman,
This gives me some information to work with. Thanks for everything again.
This gives me some information to work with. Thanks for everything again.