 What stung me? Any ideas?
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| tittch |
Posted on 17-11-2006 14:49
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Member Location: Posts: 6 Joined: 17.11.06 |
I'm very curious about what stung me on Wednesday 15th November. I apologise for the infantile way of describing the insect, but I have no real knowledge of insects.... The insect dropped down on my dining table so I picked it up with my fore-finger and thumb to put it out, when it curved it's back over and jabbed me. It was like being pricked with a needle, but didn't draw blood. It looked very much like an extremely stocky crane-fly, but was dark brown and not at all ditzy. It was 25-30mm long and very strong looking. Is that enough for you to go on? Many thanks Rita ETA: I'm on the south coast of England where the weather has been unusually mild this autumn. Edited by tittch on 17-11-2006 15:21 |
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| crex |
Posted on 17-11-2006 15:05
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 Member Location: Posts: 1996 Joined: 22.05.06 |
Where was it? Europe? USA? Australia? Nepal?  |
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| tittch |
Posted on 17-11-2006 15:22
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Member Location: Posts: 6 Joined: 17.11.06 |
crex wrote: Where was it? Europe? USA? Australia? Nepal? D'oh me. South coast of England. Have editted my original post. Thanks. |
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| Xespok |
Posted on 17-11-2006 15:40
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 Member Location: Posts: 5550 Joined: 02.03.05 |
A Reduviid (assasin) bug perhaps? They can give nasy bites. I do not think it is a diptera, because I do not think you would miss a Tabanid fly for anything else, Tabanids (or other dipterans) would not use a bite as a defense, beside, it is too late for Tabanids anyways. Also the way you discribe the scene (it turned around and than came the bite) does not seem to indicate a Diptera. |
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| tittch |
Posted on 17-11-2006 17:36
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Member Location: Posts: 6 Joined: 17.11.06 |
Xespok wrote: A Reduviid (assasin) bug perhaps? They can give nasy bites. I do not think it is a diptera, because I do not think you would miss a Tabanid fly for anything else, Tabanids (or other dipterans) would not use a bite as a defense, beside, it is too late for Tabanids anyways. Also the way you discribe the scene (it turned around and than came the bite) does not seem to indicate a Diptera. No it wasn't a Reduviid bug. It was much more Tabanid in shape, but not a Tabanid either - as you say too late in the year, but the shape was very much like one. It also definitely a sting not a bite. |
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| Paul Beuk |
Posted on 17-11-2006 20:18
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 Super Administrator Location: Posts: 19208 Joined: 11.05.04 |
tittch wrote: when it curved it's back over and jabbed me Does that mean the 'bite' came from its rear end? in that case it sounds more like wasp-like insect to me. I have heared some of the sawflies can use their ovipsitor to 'jibe' at you... Paul - - - - Paul Beuk on https://diptera.info |
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| tittch |
Posted on 17-11-2006 20:48
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Member Location: Posts: 6 Joined: 17.11.06 |
Paul Beuk wrote: tittch wrote: when it curved it's back over and jabbed me Does that mean the 'bite' came from its rear end? in that case it sounds more like wasp-like insect to me. I have heared some of the sawflies can use their ovipsitor to 'jibe' at you... As I said, it was definitely a sting. I saw it bend it's rear end round and jab me. It didn't look at all like a wasp. My husband agrees that it was like a unspindly brown crane fly crossed with a giant flying ant! Not very friendly looking at all. |
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| kitenet |
Posted on 17-11-2006 22:25
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 Member Location: Posts: 118 Joined: 04.05.06 |
This is beginning to sound like an ichneumon wasp to me, perhaps an Ophion species? These seem to fit the bill for "cranefly crossed with ant", and several species are active at this time of the year in the UK. See images at: http://www.warren.../02480.htm and some info at: http://www.plantp...luteus.php The species within this genus are very difficult to sort out. Martin Martin Harvey |
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| tittch |
Posted on 18-11-2006 11:36
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Member Location: Posts: 6 Joined: 17.11.06 |
haematocephalus wrote: This is beginning to sound like an ichneumon wasp to me, perhaps an Ophion species? These seem to fit the bill for "cranefly crossed with ant" , and several species are active at this time of the year in the UK.See images at: http://www.warren.../02480.htm and some info at: http://www.plantp...luteus.php The species within this genus are very difficult to sort out. Martin I think we're getting closer, but the wasp seems too 'pretty' and a little too orange. The culprit was opaque brown and the head didn't have the big eyes. This is fun isn't it? |
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| tittch |
Posted on 20-11-2006 12:46
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Member Location: Posts: 6 Joined: 17.11.06 |
Stumped eh?  |
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but don't see the image in the post.