The weather was SO nice yesterday. With a temperature high of only 71 degrees, it was the perfect Kentucky fall day. Of course, I had to work outside!
I was so happy with the sun shining and the breeze lightly blowing. Well, that was before the attack of the tiny little biting bugs! My first thought was chiggers or fleas, but they didn’t really look like either of those things. It couldn’t be a gnat because I’ve never known those to hurt.
Not even an eighth of an inch, they packed a mighty punch and had me hollerin’ until I gave up and went inside to figure out what the heck those buggers were. I left the dogs in the backyard to run around and fend for themselves (they seemed totally unphased) as I put my Google gloves on to investigate.
Apparently, there is an annoying insect in Kentucky called a Minute (My-Noot) Pirate Bug. According to Kentucky Pest News, they aren’t usually abundant unless it is an “outbreak year.” During those times, people can encounter dozens if they come upon a group of them.
As their name suggests, they are very small and mostly black with tan and white markings. They also just so happen to have a tiny needle for a mouth that hurts and leaves a bump. “The small red bite is painful and may also itch, similar to a mosquito bite. Pirate bugs aren’t blood feeders, though; they are simply probing us when they land on humans.”
I would rather not be probed, thank you very much! Some folks have success avoiding pirate bug bites by dressing in long sleeves and pants while doing yard work. Others say sprays with DEET can keep them away, but unfortunately, it’s just one of those things that rural areas deal with during harvest times. The Pirate Bugs go on adventures when the fields they live in are rustled up. They sail into town to look for “booty” to bite!
Here’s a clip from Click on Detroit that explains what they are and how to avoid their bites.
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