Man bitten by rare insect in Ytre Enebakk

Jon Ragnar Skotte was bitten twice by an unusual insect outside his cabin in Ytre Enebakk, Akershus, on Sunday afternoon, Dagbladet reports.

Skotte described an intense burning pain when the insect bit him. “It was really something completely different from being bitten by a regular horsefly or mosquito,” he said.

He managed to take a photo of the insect, which experts later identified as a predatory bug. Skotte posted the image on Facebook, sparking significant interest with nearly 500 likes and 300 comments.

Senior researcher Bjørn Arne Rukke from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health confirmed the insect was a predatory bug. He noted that while such bites are rare, they can be very painful. “You feel that bite, so to speak,” Rukke said.

Insect researcher Anders Endrestøl from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) also confirmed the identification. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of them biting humans before,” he said.

Skotte, a trained nurse, has covered the bites to avoid scratching. He remains cautious but is not overly concerned. “When I walk in tall grass, I’m a bit extra careful,” he said.