Bitten Stung by a Beetle UK? Small flying 2mm long oval black and white insect bug beetle v aggressive bite?
Question by Helen: Bitten Stung by a Beetle UK? Small flying 2mm long oval black and white insect bug beetle v aggressive bite?
This small black / white spotted bug is about 2 – 3 mm long. It is oval in shape and if I had to guess I would say it was of the beetle variety. It is spotted, but the spots are not clearly outlined, more like blotches, it must be able to fly as it landed on me. It landed on my arm and immediately sung / bit me the sensation was similar to a wasp sting. It left a hole in my skin just like a sting! It itched initially, then went red, then raised up into a large raised white sting similar to a bee / wasp / stinging nettle sting with a pin hole in the middle. There was no swarm, I could only see one insect on its own. My small children have also been badly bitten. After 2 days, the itching gets worse… I on day 3 and counting.
This was in a wooded UK garden in somerset in July 2013. I have never seen this beetle / bug before and the aggressive bite / sting is really noticeable, and you will know immediately if this has happened to you. I have tried to google it, but no one seems to have the same experience. I have googled it and seen a picture of what I think is a pollen bug and what I think seems to be a lady beetle (not ladybird) both of which are reported to ‘nibble’ , but this is no nibble , it is more like a bad sting, and neither of these seem to be it! Please can someone advise what it is and how to get rid of it!!! HELP!
Feel free to answer in the comment section below
3 Responses to Bitten Stung by a Beetle UK? Small flying 2mm long oval black and white insect bug beetle v aggressive bite?
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I dont know what it is but if it happened recently you have to suck the poison out (if there is any, to be sure jusy do it).
You put your mouth over the sting and suck.
DONT SWALLOW THE POISON, SPIT IT OUT.
I recommend that you see a doctor, fast.
Carlo
September 14, 2013 at 1:53 am
Hi there,
I was bitten yesterday by a similar sounding insect. It landed on my arm (and can therefore fly) and bit/stung me immediately, it hurt and felt like a wasp sting. It had a longish body and was black with white spots. I have searched the Internet and it looked like a flower fly however, these can not bite. I therefore think it was an Asian tiger mosquito. There have not been any confirmed cases if this creature in the UK so far but I would be interested to see if you think this is what has bitten you too.
3/8/13
Wirral.
Catherine
September 14, 2013 at 2:38 am
It could well be a bug of the Anthocoris family. I met this for the first and second time last week and can vouch for the aggressive bite. An insect expert friend ID’d it for me. Apparently it is a useful garden predator but like you it is around my children (in this case I have found a few on cucumber plants) so it will have to go. Anthocoris Nemorum seems the most common but my visitor has a heart shaped white marking behind its head so further work is needed to track down exactly which sort it is.
Paul
September 14, 2013 at 3:12 am