I just noticed these things all over my yard. I looked them up, and they appear to be wheel bugs, which I have never heard of nor recall seeing before. Sorry for the stock photo - I couldn't get one in focus long enough to get a good photo:

Reading up on these, it sounds like they are great for taking out pests, but they also have a very painful stab (although I guess not dangerous). Questions:

1) does anyone have any experience with these? Should I encourage them in the garden?

2) how do I avoid the painful bite that has been described as way worse than a hornet sting? Would rubber gardening gloves work? They are very shy bugs, but would be fearful of grabbing a handful of vegetation with one in it