Hello Lori, 

The picture is a little burry, but that looks like some type of assassin bug nymph to me.   Where are you encountering them? About what size are they? 

- Emily Zobel
UME 

Hi Emily,

Thanks for the quick response.  I’m in Maryland and they’re biting me while on my deck which is surrounded by pine trees.  They’re very small, about the size of a good sized flea.



Good job finding an answer through your neighborhood group. The azalea bug is not one we commonly see or receive questions about, but they are certainly here -- and the adults do bite, unfortunately. 

The good news: There is just one generation per year and the adults are said to be finished and gone by about late June/mid-July. Azalea plant bugs are natural predators of azalea lace bugs and also have been observed feeding on other pests such as aphids, whiteflies, and thrips.

https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JARS/v33n1/v33n1-wheeler.htm

https://www.azaleas.org/wp-content/uploads/azalean/21/4/articles/Observations_and_Notes_on_the_Azalea_Plant_Bug_Rhinocapsus_vanduzeel_Uhier.pdf

Christa

Thanks Christa!