Masked hunter

5704  I had this bug bite me.  I put on a pair of pants walked out my front door and felt a burning (kind of like when you get a red ant bite) on my outside thigh when I moved my pants I saw this bug. What is it? I was told it looks like a kissing bug.  I’m from Brampton Ontario.  Thank you,  Rebecca

This appears to be a nearly mature nymph of an assassin bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae) known as the masked hunter (Reduvius personatus). This one is missing the usual camouflage coating of dust and other debris; see http://tinyurl.com/gq6hd9c for an image of one with its usual appearance. This is a peridomestic species with a wide distribution, and it does have a reputation for a very painful (but not dangerous) bite. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.