Small biting bug? Please help!

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montanadolphin Columbia, VA(Zone 6b) May 15, 2010

Walking from my back door to my garden, I got covered in these little dark bugs that bite. They fly, resemble small beetles but with a mouth part that looks like an assassin bug. Can someone please help me identify this bug and perhaps help me understand why all of a sudden they are swarming my back yard? And what can I do to get rid of them so I stop getting bit? I had to bring my two small boys in because they were getting bit as well. Thank you in advance :). I also have another picture enlarged, but I can't figure out how to add it to this post. I posted the pic that's here already to give you an idea of its size compared to my thumb at the top left corner.

This message was edited May 15, 2010 11:54 AM

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Post #7794912
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suunto Sinks Grove, WV May 15, 2010

The insect in this photo is a small weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and thus unlikely to be a cause of bites, as their jaws (mandibles) are very tiny, located at the end of their snout. That aside, there are some small beetles in other families that have jaws strong enough to make a noticeable 'pinch,' but none of these cause a bite of any consequence, merely being annoying. These weevils could a species whose larvae develop in the seed heads of some plants (such as hollyhocks), and you are seeing a mass emergence.

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montanadolphin Columbia, VA(Zone 6b) May 15, 2010

I can guarantee that they DO bite. Everytime one bit me I squished it. Is there any way to get rid of them from my yard?

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Post #7794971
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suunto Sinks Grove, WV May 15, 2010

Well, I must admit that is a new one on me. Over the years, I have been bitten and or stung by a very wide variety of insects and other arthropods, but never by a weevil! As I hesitate to attempt a specific identification from your image (the family Curculionidae includes thousands of different species), I suggest that you take some of them to your nearest office of Virginia's Cooperative Extension service for assistance in identification and any control recommendations. See http://tinyurl.com/28xkprm for contact information. These extension service offices usually are a good resource when dealing with most home/yard/garden pest problems.

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