My baby wheel bugs hatched recently, and I'm having a hard time finding food for them. I tried to make a fruit fly trap with a bottle, a funnel, and some smashed tomato, but I guess it's too cold outside. Yesterday I brought the trap inside, but I haven't seen any flies yet. I know I could buy fruit fly cultures, but I don't want to spend any money.
Is there a better trap I can make or a good place I can look to get bugs small enough for my wheel bugs to eat?
According to Wikipedia Wheel bugs may be overly sensitive to pesticides
Wheel bugs are highly regarded by organic gardeners because they consume a variety of insects and their presence indicates a healthy, pesticide-free ecosystem.
As pointed out in the question Feeding Leopard Gecko food from outside? the risk of harm to your pet(s) from wild caught insects in residential areas, is significant. Purchasing Farm-raised insects or beginning with them to farm your own may be ultimately more cost effective and safer for your pets.
In addition to fruit flies, aphids could form the foundation of a healthy herd to feed your Wheel bugs.
If you simply leave some fruit leftovers in a spot in your home in a bug container, they will come. I have done it for baby lizards using tomato and orange rinds. I never had a problem with those pests popping up like magic no matter the weather outdoors.
Wheel bugs primarily consume other slow-moving insects, like caterpillars, for example. You may want to consider that as well.
According to Hilton Pond Center, wheel bugs (aka assassins of the insect world) are carnivores, so my guess is they eat smaller bugs. For example ants, flies, etc. But I suggest liquefying the food since they're newborns. Please check your local pet store. I'm not an expert.
