05 April 2023 , 14:21
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A woman was left in agony after getting a nasty bite off an "assassin bug".
The mysterious tiny insect looked harmless on her couch, but the Australia n woman was left in severe pain after sitting down and getting nipped.
After taking a picture and uploading it online to ask for advice, she was advised to go straight to the Accident and Emergency department.
One helpful commenter said:"Please go straight to the doctor. They will need an injection, antihistamine & pain killer. Good luck."
Meanwhile, others told her to endure the pain as its severity should subside after a few minutes.
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One woman advised: "I wouldn't go to the doctor, the pain will be gone by then."
Another chimed in: "Their bite hurts. Ice it and will be fine."
It's also known as the "kissing bug" (Getty Images/iStockphoto)A third said that they had been bitten a month or two ago and despite having "hurt a lot" they added the "pain went away after about an hour or so".
But the pain was only one thing to worry about, as others warned the insect carries diseases.
The Assassin bug preys on termites, caterpillars and grasshoppers, which it will ambush and paralyse with their venomous saliva.
The Australian Museum explained: "The fluid immobilises the prey and dissolves its tissues."
'If provoked, assassin bugs can bite humans. Their venomous bites are immediately and severely painful. If you are bitten by an assassin bug, be sure to wash the bite and apply antiseptic as needed,' experts from Pest World advise.