[masraum]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I wish some sort of natural predator would start harvesting those durn lantern flies.

https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/spotted-lanternfly-wheel-bug-praying-mantis-pennsylvania-invasive-species/521-28c62dbb-69ca-4fa0-a03c-dcc728349ef2

According to a study from Penn State University, the public has aided them in finding several predators for the bug. Chickens, cardinals, praying mantises, ants, wasps, and spiders have all been reported and captured eating the invasive species.

The bugs aren't the main diet of these predators, but they're generalists that are making use of a rapidly increasing and abundant food source, according to experts.

One known predator that has been spotted increasingly snacking on the lanternflies is the wheel bug.

If you've never heard of these predators, they're typically found in Southwest Pennsylvania, but they've become more common throughout the state within the past decade.

This bug has a piercing beak-type mouth. They will lay eggs right next to spotted lanternfly egg masses. Since the wheel bug hatches first, they will sit and wait for the spotted lanternfly eggs to hatch. A quick and free meal!

Wheel bugs are crazy looking. We've got them here.


What triggered this post is that I saw the following on FB, which made me think of your post.

**PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT**

This is a wheel bug. This little fellow is NOT an invasive species in Pennsylvania. Please do not kill them.

Wheel bugs are our largest native assassin bug, and our best defense against lanternflys.

They will lay their eggs next to lanternfly nests and because they hatch earlier, the wheel bugs will eat the lanternflys as they hatch.

DO NOT handle these little badasses with your bare hands. Though they are not aggressive, wheel bugs will bite if they feel that they are being threatened. Their bites hurt like an MF because they’re walking around with what is essentially a tiny machete on their face.

If you have to move one, use a stick or object that keeps them at a distance. Though they do slowly lumber around, don’t be fooled. Wheel bugs are capable of striking with quickness and they can also fly.

If you see a wheel bug please just leave it alone. It has a very important job to do and that’s fighting the good fight against the lanternfly.

God speed, tiny assassin. God speed.

**Update**

The wheel bug can be found throughout most of the southern and northeastern United States, so these little native assassins are helping to dispose of pests all over the US. These guys also love to predate on the brown marmorated stink bug, which is an invasive insect species in the US from Asia. One more reason to not harm wheel bugs.