What are the tiny bugs in the air biting people in Kansas?

TOPEKA (KSNT) – If you’ve been outside lately you may have noticed some annoying little bugs are out and about.

The arrival of late summer and early fall brings with it an irritating insect known as the minute pirate bug. These pesky bugs, while not dangerous, have a bad habit of biting people.

Minute pirate bugs feed on everything from smaller insects to pollen grains, according to Kansas State University’s Research and Extension Office. While small in size, about as big as the head of a pin, the bugs are usually found flying around in fields. The bugs may start to move out of these areas in late summer and make themselves known by biting people.

“Though small, these insects have a surprisingly painful bite. They use their short, blunt beak to try to probe into the skin. They do not feed on blood, inject a venom or saliva, or transmit any disease.”
Kansas State University Research and Extension Office publication excerpt

People bitten by the bugs may find themselves covered in reddened skin, experience swelling or become itchy. K-State reports that repellents aren’t usually effective against the bugs but instead recommends wearing long darker-colored clothes to appear less attractive to them.

While minute pirate bugs might be annoying, they are very beneficial to the local environment. Minute pirate bugs feed on other insects, such as aphids and caterpillars, which helps manage garden areas.

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