They sit in wait of prey and are most likely to attack small flying insects, however they can subdue and kill medium-sized caterpillars and similar insects. Some prey in vegetable plantings include aphids, leafhoppers and asparagus beetle eggs and larvae. They may feed on beneficial species as well as pests. Although they have not been specifically manipulated for biological control, they do contribute to natural control and their conservation by judicious pesticide use is beneficial. The wheel bug, Arilus cristatus , is one of the largest and most easily recognized assassin bugs.
Females are much larger than the males.
This species is an important predator of forest insects. Wheel bugs feed on aphids as young nymphs.