Biting bug identity

[Stanford]

Hi, this is my first post here so I apologise if I'm asking a daft question - I searched around and couldn't find anything that resembled the little bugs that are, in summer, the bane of my life.
I don't have a picture, and I'm hoping I never get the opportunity to take one, so here is a description of them.

It is green/brown, around 10mm, with a very angular, almost prism-like shape. I'm not sure whether they fly although they generally only attack the ankles and lower leg. I'm not hyper-sensitive to bites although all the usual insects do also like my blood - these ones cause the most incredibly painful, itchy and swollen bites.

They seem to inhabit grassy areas (I've been bitten in my garden and also in Regents Park) and they become active in the afternoon/early evening.

Can anyone shed any light on what they are, please? (they are definitely not horse flies or similar).

Thanks.

[almostnormal]

Originally Posted by Stanford

Hi, this is my first post here so I apologise if I'm asking a daft question - I searched around and couldn't find anything that resembled the little bugs that are, in summer, the bane of my life.
I don't have a picture, and I'm hoping I never get the opportunity to take one, so here is a description of them.

It is green/brown, around 10mm, with a very angular, almost prism-like shape. I'm not sure whether they fly although they generally only attack the ankles and lower leg. I'm not hyper-sensitive to bites although all the usual insects do also like my blood - these ones cause the most incredibly painful, itchy and swollen bites.

They seem to inhabit grassy areas (I've been bitten in my garden and also in Regents Park) and they become active in the afternoon/early evening.

Can anyone shed any light on what they are, please? (they are definitely not horse flies or similar).

Thanks.

they sound a bit like some kind of cleg?? i'd suggest its some sort of fly at any rate. will do some digging and see what i can find!
i'm not good at id'ing biting insects because thet're usually a bit,umm, flat when i see them!

[demicav]

Originally Posted by Stanford

Hi, this is my first post here so I apologise if I'm asking a daft question - I searched around and couldn't find anything that resembled the little bugs that are, in summer, the bane of my life.
I don't have a picture, and I'm hoping I never get the opportunity to take one, so here is a description of them.

It is green/brown, around 10mm, with a very angular, almost prism-like shape. I'm not sure whether they fly although they generally only attack the ankles and lower leg. I'm not hyper-sensitive to bites although all the usual insects do also like my blood - these ones cause the most incredibly painful, itchy and swollen bites.

They seem to inhabit grassy areas (I've been bitten in my garden and also in Regents Park) and they become active in the afternoon/early evening.

Can anyone shed any light on what they are, please? (they are definitely not horse flies or similar).

Thanks.

It does sound like some kind of Horse fly but without a picture it's difficult to say. Maybe someone else can shed some better light on it.

[Tiggrx]

I wouldn't have thought that Regent's Park was really Cleg habitat - I've walked in that area several evening recently and haven't seen any (I usually am very attractive to them if they are about. Around here I mostly get bitten by Mosquitos or Thunderflies

[Stanford]

Thanks for your thoughts, I will try and capture one for a picture.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

I wouldn't have thought that Regent's Park was really Cleg habitat - I've walked in that area several evening recently and haven't seen any (I usually am very attractive to them if they are about. Around here I mostly get bitten by Mosquitos or Thunderflies

there is another type of horsefly that I was reading about earlier that specifically attacks the lower leg I think its less associated with damp patch - though presumably still needs livestock...... but this would just appear as a chunky brown fly rather than a triangular prism shaped thing.....

[Stanford]

I have caught one yet but I been doing a bit of surfing and found something that looks similar.
I know you will probably all say I'm barking, but it looks like a shield bug, but one that either bites or probes for blood rather than plant sap.

Does this help with identification, or just make things worse?

[Andy Warne]

There was a thread previously asking whether shield bugs bite,

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/fo...pe-things.html

Seems like it is unusual for them but not impossible.

[Stanford]

Could it be a Mirid bug? The material I've seen doesn't suggest a taste for blood, though.

Whatever it is that has bitten me in the past was definitely shaped like a shield bug / mirid bug.

I'm still waiting for one to have a go so I can capture it.

[Dr Gonzo]

This is the swine : Anthocoris nemorum: Flower bug.

Been bitten many a time and have the wound on my hand as I type. Had a good trawl around t'internet this morning and found it (after seeing your post).


Anthocoris nemorum - Google Image Search