# What is this SoCal bug?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-socal-bug/194148>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 10, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-socal-bug/194148 "2003-08-10T04:36:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Toaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@Toaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toaster)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-socal-bug/194148/1 "2003-08-10T04:36:05Z")

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[http://www.anomalousarts.com/junk/buuuuug.jpg](http://www.anomalousarts.com/junk/buuuuug.jpg)

It bit/stung a friend of mine, who had a reaction (nothing serious), wherein his hand swelled up and tingled for a little while. He lives halfway between L.A. and San Diego. It’s slightly over 2 centimeters long. Any ideas, entomologists?

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-socal-bug/194148/2 "2003-08-10T04:43:45Z")

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Could be a species [this](http://www.insects.org/entophiles/hemiptera/hemi_009.html)… maybe?

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**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-socal-bug/194148/3 "2003-08-10T07:49:41Z")

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I think **astro** nailed it in one. It does appear to be an [Assassin Bug](http://fciig.ifas.ufl.edu/images/i1assab.jpg). The picture is of a bug from Florida, but there are similar ones, of the colouration that you have shown in California.

[Here](http://kaweahoaks.com/html/assissin_bug.html) is a page with a bit more nfo of Californian Assassin Bugs.

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-socal-bug/194148/4 "2003-08-10T13:47:27Z")

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From **Emperor Penguin** ’s link:

> [@](#):
>
> They will inflict a very painful bite to humans if handled carelessly, causing a severe reaction in some persons.

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**Author:** ![Toaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@Toaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toaster)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-socal-bug/194148/5 "2003-08-10T17:23:08Z")

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Thanks guys. He did (much later) tell me he got a big bloody blister on the bitten area, so yeah, it must have been an assassin bug. Maybe this’ll teach him to stop irritating local insects.

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**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-socal-bug/194148/6 "2003-08-10T21:21:35Z")

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No problem, glad to help. Of course, **astro** did all of the hard work. I just have to say, I love these bug ID threads. Finally gives me a chance to put my hobby towards an actual useful end.