A large tan-colored, orb-weaving spider with red legs is struggling with a partially silk-wrapped wheel bug. They are dangling in a tattered web against a black background

A large tan-colored, orb-weaving spider with red legs is struggling with a partially silk-wrapped wheel bug. From this angle, the spider is almost completely eclipsed by the struggling wheel bug. They are dangling in a tattered web against a black background.

A large tan-colored, orb-weaving spider with red legs is struggling with a partially silk-wrapped wheel bug. They are dangling in a tattered web against a black background

“Who’s in charge now?” If asked, I’d affirm the wheel bug, #Arilus cristatus, as the top predator in my yard. A recent encounter w/ one of the many cross #orbweavers, #Neoscona crucifera, in my yard reminded me that the tables can, and do, turn. #Arachtober #spider #Reduviidae #Araneidae #arachnid

Large gray wheel bug perched on a goldenrod stem with its red antennae extended outward to the left. A cog-like extension rises from thorax, this wheel is the source of the common name.

#Predator & Emperor of my garden, #Arilus cristatus, the wheel bug (Family #Reduviidae), prowls the vegetation looking for a meal!

A photo of a gray and black striped wheel bug from the side as it rests on a green leaf. The Wheel Bug's head is gray, slender and elongated, its piercing mouthparts are red and curve down and backwards away from the head, under the body. The legs are gray, long and slender. The thorax, or pronotun is marked with a serrated vertical disk shaped ridge, which gives the bug its name, this is gray, the edge of which is black. The bug's thick abdomenis marked with black stripes on gray above, with black spots on gray below

A photo of the bug from above, the wheel appears very slender in this view, and the abdomen very wide. The bug's wings are folded along the rear and have a dark golden metallic look from this angle.

A closeup of the bug's folded wings and rear of its abdomen. The folded wings look almost like crinkled golden foil.

I then happened upon the largest Assassin Bug in North America, the North American Wheel Bug, #Arilus cristatus, VERY LARGE (2 inches +) very in charge, and with some gold leaf looking folded wings 😻

#WheelBug