wheel bug

noun

: a large North American assassin bug (Arilus cristatus) that has a high serrated crest on its prothorax and preys on insects

Examples of wheel bug in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Assassin bugs, the group to which wheel bug belongs, and other beneficials are profiled in our pollinators and beneficial insects resources online. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 6 Oct. 2022 Some scientists suspect that certain native species, including the wheel bug and the corn spider, are beginning to take advantage of the abundant new food source in town. Steven Strogatz, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2011

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wheel bug.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1815, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wheel bug was in 1815

Dictionary Entries Near wheel bug

Cite this Entry

“Wheel bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wheel%20bug. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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