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green bug bite #802841

Asked July 25, 2022, 9:09 AM EDT

My wife wanted me to contact you about a bite I got from a green bug in our garden. She wanted me to send a photo I found on the internet because I don't remember exactly what it looked like. I felt the bite right away on my ankle. I saw the bug there and hit it right away... so it fell off and I started bleeding. Well anyway... she wanted to find out what it was. The photo is of a bug that it either was or closely resembles.

Ingham County Michigan

Expert Response

Hello Dennis,

That is an ambush bug, Phymata sp. (Reduviidae: Phymatinae). They can deliver a painful bite.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phymatinae

Regards, Howard

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Howard Russell, Entomologist Replied July 26, 2022, 3:33 PM EDT
Thank you. Most likely my wife will have some questions for you.


-----Original Message-----
From: Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
To: Dennis Preston <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Tue, Jul 26, 2022 3:33 pm
Subject: Re: green bug bite (#0072772)

The Question Asker Replied July 26, 2022, 9:48 PM EDT

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