# Wheel bug assassin bug vs. silver-spotted skipper caterpillar

This wheel bug nymph is attacking a silver-spotted skipper caterpillar. Wheel bugs are a type of assassin bug. They use their beak-like mouthparts to inject toxin into their prey's body, immobilizing the prey before feeding on its body fluids. The silver-spotted skipper will feed on soybeans, but rarely causes significant damage.

Created by: Ian Grettenberger

Wheel bug (Arilus cristatus, Hemiptera:Reduviidae) Caterpillar (Epargyreus clarus, Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae

Part of a USDA Northeast SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) Graduate Student Grant (https://www.nesare.org/)

Music used: The Land of the Wizard by Per Kiilstofte (Machinimasound.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY 3.0 Unported License https://machinimasound.com/license

- Kind: Short
- Year: 2013
- Runtime: 1 min
- By: Ian Grettenberger
- Archive: [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wheel_bug_assassin_bug_vs._silver-spotted_skipper_caterpillar.webm)
- Licence or status: [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0) (as the archive states it)
- Credit: Ian Grettenberger
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/commons/35757074?play=1)