Any idea what this biting insect might have been?
I was sitting outside in my shorts last night and a dark brown roughly oblong shaped bug (narrower a bit in front), about 3/8s to a half inch long landed on my leg. Before I could brush it off it bit me hard in the leg. It took a chunk out slightly bigger than a dimple on a golfball. The area around the bite swelled and turned red in a circle over an area about 4 inches across. It’s still sore today over the same area. The bug was solid brown, with no markings and it didn’t have a hard shell. I didn’t get a view of the wings. I’ve never seen this insect before. It was later in the night and I was on my porch with the light on. Any ideas?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
27 Answers
Nuisance Autumn horse flies “buzz” people and rest on porches during late summer.
Are you feeling unwell?
I’m thinking deer fly maybe?
It was full dark, about 11PM, and it wasn’t a fly. The bite was worse than a horsefly. It hurt big time.
@Espiritus_Corvus Thanks for your answer. No, it flew on to me. The reaction was a little bizzare, but it wasn’t a spider.
No, thanks very much. Those things are so so nasty. I had to think for a bit, but yes it flew on to me.
I have no medical or entomological knowledge to impart, just an expression of concern and an opinion. The effect you are experiencing doesn’t sound like anything to fool around with. In your place I would get myself to an urgent care clinic or the emergency room, or at the very least call my doctor (or whoever is on call).
@Jeruba Yes, I was feeling really lousy this morning. Everything hurts, congestion, vomiting. I head to the Dr in 15 minutes.
Oh jeez, keep us updated.
I had a severe systematic reaction to whatever bit me. That’s the second stage of a reaction. If it get’s worse it goes to an anaphylactic reaction which is life threatening without fast treatment. And the swell news is if I get bit again the reaction will be worse than it was the first time. I got lucky this time. I’ll be more careful. The redness was the local reaction. I still don’t know what it was that bit me. Thanks for all your thoughts. You guys are great. :)
Oh, and I had to get a steroid shot in the butt. I picked the boxers with the mooses wearing sunglasses. She loved them. I can wait til I have to go back.:)
How is it being treated? What’s the prognosis? And yikes. I’m so glad you’re okay!
(Edit: My questions were answered by an edit to the post above.)
@Jeruba I’m fine other than a sore butt. I should keep an EpiPen on hand.
That last sentence? Was going to be my next. Did you get an rx?
I have no idea how this stuff works, but were you told you had had an allergic reaction to the bite? Or is that maybe just the effect that bug’s bite has on the human body? Would an EpiPen work if it’s the latter?
Anyway, hope you don’t mind but I’ve asked Reddit for help on this ID, since it seems pretty important that you try to avoid this happening again!
Thanks guys. I’m hurting so so bad tonight. My body took way too much abuse, from a stupid bug. Learn the signs of a reaction. I thought the redness going away was the end of it. It’s only the first part. It was a full blown reaction to the bite Mariah. She could tell when she touched the bite. Don’t wait as long as I did.
I think what @Mariah was asking there is whether your reaction was your own allergic response or this insect’s bite would have this same effect on everyone. Some people are dangerously allergic to a bee sting, for example, whereas to others it’s just a sting; but if you’re bitten by a venomous snake, that’s not a matter of allergy—it’s toxic for everybody. So which was it for this bite?
I don’t think the bug was toxic. She was pretty sure it was an allergic reaction. She touched the bite site, examined it for a bit, and she said” Wow you are having a reaction. The sites still hard.” The fact sheets showed it was right by the book.
@Jeruba much more clearly stated exactly what I was trying to ask.
Well, if she thinks it was allergic, definitely get yourself an EpiPen! That’s scary.
Sorry you’re hurting so much. Hope you start feeling better soon. I expect you will, having gotten steroids.
@Mariah Got the EpiPeb rx. Day two: I’m still hurting pretty bad, headache all day. You guys get the red go to the Dr immediately. I did think of something this morning. The bug looked liked a cross between a moth and a big horsefly, but without the big eyes. Which makes sense being noctournal.
Wow, I would love to know what that thing was. I suppose you are keeping a sharp eye out but also avoiding long nighttime sits on the porch…?
@Jeruba Oh yeah, I’m still looking, from inside the house. This whole thing has been pretty mean.
And you’re in what part of the country?
Upstate NY, Chenango County.
You should ask this guy. I bet he’ll know – and entomologists get calls like this a lot, according to an NPR story I heard a while back about bedbugs.
I would also recommend trying What’s That Bug? They respond pretty quickly, in my experience, and are very knowledgeable. It might be difficult to get an ID without a photo, but if I were you, I’d keep trying.
Answer this question 
Composing members:
0
