For some reason I have the urge to
poke
it

I have tons of those around my house now. I actually found a very tiny smooth orange one, then it shedded/multiplied and turned brown... xp

oh watch out, I believe that that is an assasin bug, you can tell by that like hook of a mouth hes got, so be careful some of em are pretty poisonous..... :PX but they are interesting little critters

yep, assassin bugs come in all kinds of neat colors, sizes, and shapes to fit their area... but they all can and will "bite" or at least poke ya... we have two main types up here, little green ones and big black ones, and I know from past experience that oddly enough the little green ones can make one feel sick after a "bite", and the big black ones "bite" just hurts like hell!

This is a Wheel Bug (note the cog wheel ridge on its back), which as others have stated before is a type of assassin bug. They aren't particularly dangers and are quite beneficial as they feed on other bugs.

However, if disturbed, their bite can be quite painful, so best to leave them be.

Wheel bugs will only bite people in self-defence -- and that "beak" can really stab! But if left alone, they eat caterpillars and other insect pests... which makes them very beneficial bugs to have in a vegetable garden.


Mark

I saw those a few years before I left my parent's home. Awesome little critters--but can be dangerous. But still cool-looking what that half saw-blade looking thing on their back.