Adults are large assassin bugs, being 1-1/4 inch long and have a slender, long, reddish-brown antennae. The body is grayish-black with an upright one-half "cogwheel-like" crest on the thorax bearing 8 to 12 protruding teeth-like structures. The membrane of the front wing is coppery colored. Wheel bugs are voracious predators. Nymphs and adults feed primarily on insects which are soft bodied and easily punctured by the proboscis or mouth part. The adults feed on large caterpillars, such as tomato hornworms, walnut caterpillars and fall webworms, by piercing them and sucking them dry. They will not bite humans readily, but when they do, the bite is very painful.
No control is necessary for this beneficial insect.