Wheel Bug Control: How To Get Rid of Wheel Bugs

This page is a general wheel bugs control guide. Using the products and methods suggested, you will get control of wheel bugs. Follow this guide, use the recommended products, and we guarantee 100% control of wheel bugs.

The startling wheel bug is becoming an increasing presence in gardens, farmlands, and residential areas. Wheel bugs are larger-sized assassin bugs and are actually one of the biggest insects found in the United States, ranging between 1 inch and 1.25 inches in length.

The wheel bug is usually found in meadows or on trees and shrubs, where it likes to feed on smaller insects. It is actually beneficial to have in your garden since it is a predator and eats other irritating bugs like aphids, stink bugs, caterpillars, and beetles. However, when they slip inside a household or encounter humans, they can be a problem because they deliver a painful sting.

If you have encountered a wheel bug on your property, getting rid of it should be a high priority. Following our DIY guide below, you can effectively treat and eliminate wheel bugs using the right bug-killing products and expert know-how we provide.

Identification

Before proceeding with treatment, it's important to properly identify the pest to ensure that it is indeed a wheel bug. Misidentification can lead to using the wrong treatment methods and products, which can be a costly waste of time.

• The wheel bug is part of the assassin bug family and ranges from 1 inch to 1.5 inches long. It is usually dark brown in color with a pattern of tiny white patches all over its body.
• They have long legs, antennae, and an imposing long mouthpart resembling a singular fang.
• Wheel bugs get their name from a distinctive cogwheel shape on their backs. 

Use the image and description above to help you correctly identify the wheel bug. If you are not quite sure, contact us, and we will try and assist you with proper identification.

Inspection

Once you are certain you are dealing with wheel bugs, you need to Inspect where they are harboring and the entry points they might be using to enter a structure. Inspect your property to look for wheel bugs and possible entry points.

Where To Inspect

Wheel bugs are commonly found outdoors near gardens and woody areas, usually where there are many insects, their main prey. They are diurnal but are commonly attracted to lights, especially at night, and will travel indoors if they are attracted by indoor lights.

Indoors, look for small cracks and crevices where wheel bugs may hide. Outdoors inspect your yard, garden, landscaping, ornamentals, leaf litter, woodpiles, and debris. In the exterior of the foundation of your structure, look for small cracks and crevices, small slits and openings in door frames, window frames, and electrical/plumbing penetrations that occur on the walls.

What To Look For

You're looking for wheel bugs and possible entry points. Indoors, look for small cracks and crevices around window frames and door frames and possible entry points that might lead to the outdoors. Outdoors, remove leaf litter, woodpiles, and yard debris in search of wheel bugs.

Inspect your garden, ornamentals, and landscaping for Wheel Bugs. Outdoors around the foundation, search vegetation close to the foundation and possible entry points in cracks and crevices. 

Treatment

Once you have confirmed wheel bug activity or possible entry points, it is time to begin treatment. Remember to read all product labels and follow their application instructions, and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment.

While wheel bugs can be alarming, a large infestation is rare. Wheel bugs are also considered beneficial insects in gardens and lawns because they eat beetles, caterpillars, and other damaging insects. If you don't want any around, you must eliminate the bugs they enjoy eating. By eliminating the insect population, wheel bugs will have no reason to stick around.

Outdoors, we recommend treating both Supreme IT and Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules. Apply Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules to the turf areas surrounding the home, spray the granules with Supreme IT Insecticide, and use Supreme IT as a barrier perimeter treatment to keep wheel bugs away from your home. 

Step 1: Outdoor Treatment with Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules

Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules is a granular insecticide labeled to treat many different lawn insects. Its residual effect lasts up to three months and can be broadcast over your entire yard to address wheel bug prey like caterpillars, beetles, and aphids.

The typical application rate is 2.3 pounds of Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules to treat 1,000 square feet of lawn.

To broadcast the Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules, you could use a push or hand spreader like the Plantmates Scatterbox.

While both styles are easy to use, a broadcast may be better suited for more extensive lawns as it holds more granules than a hand spreader and can quickly cover a lot of ground. If you need to spread granules on a flowerbed, around trees, or cover a smaller area and want to do it quickly yet precisely, the Plantmates Scatterbox hand spreader is ideal.

After measuring the square footage of your lawn (measure and calculate your lawn's length x width), add the appropriate amount of Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules to your spreader and then broadcast it uniformly over your entire lawn while walking at a steady pace. Spread the Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules in flower beds, around trees, and where you have noticed wheel bug activity.

Step 2: Spray Supreme IT around the Yard and Perimeter

Supreme IT is a broad-spectrum insecticide with a long residual effect that continues to kill for up to 90 days after application.

Calculate your yard's square footage to determine how much Supreme IT you will need to mix. Measure the treatment areas' length and width in feet, then multiply them together (length x width =square footage).

Apply 1 ounce of Supreme mixed in a gallon of water to treat 1,000 sq. ft.

To apply Supreme IT, simply add water to a hand pump and then the appropriate measured amount of Supreme IT. If you have a large yard, you can use a hose-end sprayer. To accomplish uniform control when applying to dense grass foliage, use volumes of up to 10 gallons per 1,000 sq. ft. 

Broadcast the Supreme IT mixture to activate the Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules and spray your yard and garden instead of spot-treating. Use a fan spray setting to get nice uniform coverage.

Next, you should spray a perimeter treatment of Supreme around the outside of your home and structure to create a barrier that will keep insects out. Spray around doors and windows, around the foundation going up 2 or 3 feet, and then spray any other possible entry points.

Prevention

After you have treated your home and yard, you will want to take preventative measures to ensure that wheel bugs don't reinvade in the future. 

• Start by preventing wheel bugs and sealing potential entry points into your home. Sealing and excluding entry points is one of the best forms of control. Use Caulk or Copper Mesh to fill and seal these openings where insects may enter. 
• Declutter your yard and trim back vegetation that touches your structure. Maintaining a clean yard will ensure that any obvious harborage areas for insects are addressed and that they are forced to look elsewhere for shelter. 
• Keep the lights off at night. If you have porch lights, patio lights, or even lights in the front door at night, this will attract insects, which will also attract wheel bugs. If turning the lights is impossible, you should consider switching to Yellow Bug Bulbs.
• Apply Supreme IT and Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules every 3 months around the perimeter and the yard to keep the insect population down so wheel bugs will see no reason to frequent your property.

Key Takeaways

What are Wheel Bugs?

• Wheel bugs are a type of assassin bug that is rising in number. Though they are beneficial insect predators, they are known to have a painful bite and can be startling to encounter. 

How To Get Rid of Wheel Bugs

• Address the wheel bug invasion indirectly by controlling the insect population, which eliminates their food source. We recommend doing this by applying Supreme IT and Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules every 3 months.

Preventing Wheel Bug Reinfestation

• Prevent wheel bugs from entering your property by sealing cracks and points of entry around your home and applying Supreme IT and Valar Plus Bifenthrin Granules preventatively.