Wheel bugs are highly regarded by organic gardeners because they consume a variety of insects and their presence indicates a healthy, pesticide-free ecosystem. "They're the lion or the eagle of your food web," Dr. Michael J. Raupp, an entomologist at the University of Maryland, notes. "They sit on top. When you have these big, ferocious predators in your landscape, that tells me that this is a very healthy landscape, because all these other levels in your food web are intact."[9]
Though wheel bugs are a welcome agent of pest control, they also prey on several ecologically beneficial species, such as lady beetles and honey bees.[5]
Interactions with Humans
The species is generally indifferent concerning the presence and interruption of humans. Although evidence suggests that wheel bugs can seemingly be domesticated in controlled environments, if provoked or mishandled, they may attack in an act of defense. As a cautionary warning, the bite of a wheel bug is generally considered to be of greater severity in terms of the level and duration of pain than the sting of common insects like wasps.[5] The resulting wound is documented to be extremely painful, lasting, and lingering, accompanied by an unceasing numbness which can persist for days. These effects can be avoided by handling the docile insect with gloves. The bite is not considered highly venomous and therefore is not serious in the short-term.[1][10] Furthermore, the vicinity of the injury is known to become heated and irritated. A white crust sometimes forms around the wound during the healing process, though it eventually deteriorates, leaving the small puncture wound visible. Discomfort may persist for two weeks and up to six months in some cases. However, the latter timeline is frequently attributed to allergic reactions or recurrent infections of the original wound.[5]
