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I was bitten by this insect (no big deal, but I cannot identify it). I took a picture of it (with my phone, so the picture is not great). I was sitting under some sort of vine tree (downtown though), and I think it fell from it. If that helps it happened in mid July 2016, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

I looked on several resources for biting insects in Montreal but I could not identify it. It was very small and yellow.

Also, the insect bit me, took some blood, and left me with a light burning sensation for about 10 mins. I am not a specialist at all in this, and I know nothing about insects, so I apologize for what I am going to write, but if I was to describe it, I'd say it was a weird mix between a very small yellow lizard (for the shape of the first half of the body) and a quite furry(for how it looked under). The head was shaped like a sharp triangle.

That's all the information I have, I hope that helps you identifying it!

enter image description here

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    $\begingroup$ Hmm, that's a difficult picture. How small would you say it was? $\endgroup$
    – picapica
    Commented Aug 5, 2016 at 19:20
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    $\begingroup$ @picapica I would say it was around 1 cm long max, a few mm large max. This is actually the second one I saw. I killed the first one when I slapped my ankle (that's where I saw that it bled too much, and figured it took some from me) $\endgroup$
    – Albert Beton
    Commented Aug 5, 2016 at 19:25
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    $\begingroup$ I'm getting a leaf hopper feeling from the general shape of it. But I don't think those bite... Hope someone else can solve this mystery! $\endgroup$
    – picapica
    Commented Aug 5, 2016 at 22:36
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    $\begingroup$ @picapica I checked leaf hopper, it looks a bit similar for under the body (I remember a few small "I don't know what" maybe small legs? hairs?), but the overall shape I am not sure. Thanks for the suggestion though. I met that bug twice at a coffee where I go on a regular basis, so next time I see it I'll do better pics! Meanwhile I'll keep looking on my own too! $\endgroup$
    – Albert Beton
    Commented Aug 5, 2016 at 23:40

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The shape looks like a leafhopper for sure. There are several species that are known to bite humans though it is not very common. Without a better photo however it may difficult to say what species it is for sure.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thanks for the feedback, I'll try to get a better picture when I see another one! $\endgroup$
    – Albert Beton
    Commented Aug 6, 2016 at 4:29
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Looks to me like you were bitten by a yellow Katydid. Yellow Katydid

According to Wikipedia,

Large tettigoniids can inflict a painful bite or pinch if handled, but seldom break the skin.

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    $\begingroup$ Thank you, it looks similar but what is under the body does not match what I have seen. I should have taken a pic of the insect upside down, but it looked "furry" under. Thanks for the idea though, I'll try to look at more pics to have a better idea! $\endgroup$
    – Albert Beton
    Commented Aug 5, 2016 at 23:35
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    $\begingroup$ The leg configuration doesn't seem to match to me. $\endgroup$
    – Sudachi
    Commented Aug 6, 2016 at 0:36
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    $\begingroup$ Very unlikely. By "biting if handled", it literally means if you stick your finger in its mouth. Katydids wouldn't attack/bite a person under any normal circumstance. $\endgroup$
    – theforestecologist ♦
    Commented Aug 6, 2016 at 21:40
  • $\begingroup$ Large katydids sometimes bite defensively if you try to pick them up. E.g., true katydid Pterophylla camellifolia, predatory ones like Chlorobalius leucoviridis. $\endgroup$
    – InsectSinger
    Commented Jun 25, 2018 at 23:53
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    $\begingroup$ No, not a katydid. $\endgroup$
    – Praearcturus
    Commented May 24, 2020 at 17:32

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