My Son Just Got Bit

[Bucky623]

This insect bit my son on the neck. Can anyone identify it? The head and body together are 3/8” long.

 

[Informed Decision]

I'm no expert but I think that may be an assassin bug. I don't believe there's an issue to humans. Some stuff we have around the house is called "Afterbite by "Bandaid . Works really well on insect bites. Another one is a cooling itch gel from "Benadryl "

 

[Jerry45Acp]

It looks like an Assassin Bug (Psellioupus barberi).

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Yeah, looks like one of various assassin bugs. They have a spike they drive in and inject a digestive enzyme. It'll kill another bug just fine, but there won't be enough to be more than an irritant to a human unless there's an allergic reaction. Watch the area for irritation and infection.

 

[Bill of Rights]

Yeah, looks like one of various assassin bugs. They have a spike they drive in and inject a digestive enzyme. It'll kill another bug just fine, but there won't be enough to be more than an irritant to a human unless there's an allergic reaction. Watch the area for irritation and infection.

Assassin bug: AKA "squish'emdead"

 

[BugI02]

Assassin bug part of a family that can be a vector for Chagas Disease which is caused by a trypanosome, but appears to be unlikely to get an infected bite in US (so far)

CDC - Chagas Disease - General Information - Vector Information

 

[Bucky623]

I have to agree. It looks like it could be an assassin bug. I used StingEze, which contains Benzocaine, on the bite and he said it seemed to help.
Thanks.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

Rub some dirt on it.

 

[JettaKnight]

Ugly sucker, it is.

From Wikipedia:

If harassment continues, many species can deliver a painful stab with the proboscis, injecting venom or digestive juices. The effects can be intensely painful and the injection from some species may be medically significant.