How to Identify Insect Bites

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This article was co-written by Andrea Rudomer, MD, MPH. Andrea Rudomer is a pediatrician and integrative medicine physician living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Rudomer has over 15 years of experience in the medical industry, specializing in preventive medicine, obesity treatment, teen care, ADHD, and culturally savvy medical care. Rudomer received his medical degree from the University of California, Davis, and completed his residency at Stanford University Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Rudomer also holds a master’s degree in public health in child health from the University of California, Berkeley. She is a member of the American Board of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the California Medical Association, and a member of the Santa Clara County Medical Association.

There are 14 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

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Many insects on earth can bite and sting when given the opportunity to approach humans, and you will probably encounter them many times in your life. Insects may bite or sting when provoked or when they feel threatened. The bite may not be painful at first, but oftentimes an allergic reaction to the venom is injected into the skin. Identifying insect bites will help you find the most effective way to treat your symptoms and be on the lookout for more serious dangers. Learn how to correctly recognize insect bites to choose the appropriate response.

Table of Contents

Identify the bites of common insects

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Think back to where you were bitten. Each insect has a different habitat, so you can determine which insect bit you based on the situation you’ve been in. ^{[1] X Trusted Source HealthyChildren.org Go to Source}

If you’re outdoors, especially where there are lots of trees, it’s likely that the insects that have bitten you are mosquitoes, ticks, or spiders.
If you live near food or garbage, you may have been bitten by a fly or stung by a bee.
If you’re indoors, sitting around, or playing with pets, fleas are probably the culprit.
In the United States, scorpions live only in the south or southwest, especially Texas and Arizona. A scorpion bite is extremely painful, and often very easy to distinguish.
If you are in the southeastern United States and have been bitten by an insect that looks like a mosquito, it is probably a deer fly.
If you’ve been bitten in bed, it’s probably a bed bug that bit you.
If you’ve been bitten on the beach, especially in the southeastern United States, it’s probably a sand flea bite.

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Look for red, small, and itchy bumps. This is the most common symptom seen when you are bitten by an insect, and based on other symptoms it could be due to different insect bites. ^{[2] X Trusted Source HealthyChildren.org Go to Source}

A solitary bump is probably caused by a mosquito or fly bite. You may notice a small spot in the middle of a bump caused by a mosquito bite. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Flea bites are small, itchy bumps that are concentrated in clusters. You’ll often see these spots appear on areas of skin where clothing is close to your body, such as around the waist.
Bed bug bites are red and itchy bumps that may blister, concentrated in two or three rows.

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Observe for swelling. Other forms of bites or stings are usually bumps on the surrounding skin. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

The bite of a fire ant will be swollen (up to 1.3 cm) and pus. The bites may blister after a few days. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
A scorpion sting can cause swelling and redness in the skin, and pain or numbness in the area where it was stung. A scorpion sting can be very dangerous and leaves most victims very ill. You must call 911 immediately if you suspect a scorpion sting.

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Check for stings from honey bees and wasps. The stings of these insects will immediately cause a stinging or burning sensation and swelling. The bump will have a red border (similar to a mosquito bite) with a small white spot where the stinger pricks the skin. The surrounding skin may also be swollen. Honey bees will leave stingers in the sting.

If you have been stung by a honey bee, you will need to remove the stinger. Honey bees will die when stinging people because the stinger is pulled out of the bee’s body. Do not leave the stinger in the skin. You can use a credit card to scratch the stinger to remove the stinger. Do not use tweezers to try to remove the stinger, as this may inadvertently push the stinger deeper. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Other insects such as wasps, wasps, mud bees and yellow bees will not leave stingers when stinging. If you were stung by a bee and you don’t see a stinger, you may have been stung by these bees. These insects can sting repeatedly.

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Check ticks. Tick bites are usually bright red but painless, so you might miss them if you don’t check them. Often you can detect the bite with a tick still attached to the person. Most tick bites are harmless, but many ticks carry dangerous pathogens such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. You need to be careful when you spot a tick bite. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

When ticks are attached to your body, you need to remove them as soon as possible. Use tweezers to grab the tick near its head and pull it out – do not twist, as you will cause the head to fall off and remain attached to the skin. Do not leave the head or any part of the tick on your skin. When removing ticks, use tweezers and do not use other things like Vaseline cream, matches or nail polish remover. ^{[8] X Trusted Source HealthyChildren.org Go to Source}^{[9] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
If you can’t get the tick head out, it’s probably deep under the skin. In that case, call your doctor so they can help you get it out.
Monitor the skin for insect bites. A bull’s-eye rash is a sign of Lyme disease. Go to the hospital immediately. ^{[10] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Always check for ticks on people after being outdoors in wooded areas or walking through tall grass. Ticks love dark and warm places, so you need to check all over your body. They can be as tiny as dots, so you may have to use a magnifying glass.
Tick paralysis is a rare disease caused by female ticks secreting a neurotoxin that causes temporary paralysis. This condition resolves once the tick is removed, which is common in pets and children under 10 years of age.

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Check for lice . Head lice are commonly found on the neck, scalp and behind the ears. A lice bite looks like a red rash on the head. You will probably see lice and nits in your hair. If you have head lice, wash your hair with an over-the-counter lice shampoo and wash all clothing and bedding that may have come in contact with the lice. ^{[11] X Research Source}^{[12] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Do not use lice shampoos if you are pregnant. You should consult your doctor to find the most appropriate way to get rid of lice.
Using an overnight coconut oil hair mask is also an effective head lice treatment for women who cannot use chemicals. ^{[13] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Treat insect bites

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Wash the bitten area with soap and water. This step helps clean up the bite and prevent infection. Do not apply cream or medicine to the bite if the skin has not been cleaned. ^{[15] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Apply an anti-itch cream if the bite causes itching. Look for an over-the-counter antihistamine like Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton. ^{[16] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} Do not scratch the bite site, as you may cause the bite to become infected by scratching.

Topical creams, gels, and lotions can help relieve itching, especially products that contain pramoxine or benadryl.

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Reduce swelling. Apply cold by dipping a cloth in cold water or wrapping ice in a towel and applying it to the swelling. If possible, elevate the area of the bite to reduce blood flow to the wound. ^{[17] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Cure urticaria. Red, lumpy, and itchy bumps may appear due to hypersensitivity to insect bites. Urticaria can be treated with antihistamines and topical steroids. ^{[18] X Trusted Source DermNet NZ Go to Source}

Do not scratch the bumps, as you may leave a scar or cause an infection by scratching.

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Handling shock . Some insect bites can cause an allergic reaction, a condition that can be very dangerous. Signs of a serious reaction usually include: hives, rash, swelling in the throat or tongue, and trouble breathing. This is an emergency, so call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. Use an EpiPen if you have one, as allergic shock can be fatal. ^{[19] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Find medical care. Symptoms such as itching and swelling can disappear quickly in most cases. If symptoms persist or get worse, you should contact your doctor to make sure a serious reaction is not occurring. ^{[20] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

If you suspect or are certain you have been bitten by a scorpion, seek medical attention immediately.

Advice

Most insect bites and stings will cause temporary skin irritation, but this usually goes away. With the exception of people who are allergic to certain insect bites, only certain species of spiders and venomous insects will cause worrisome reactions.
When you search the internet for how to identify insect bites, the results may not include spider bites. Spiders are arachnids, not insects. If you suspect a spider bite, you should search with the keyword “spider bite” to identify the spider species.
Avoid inciting insects, as this action will most likely expose you to their attack in self-defense.
When outdoors, use insect repellent products and protective clothing, such as long pants and long sleeves.
Sweet foods and garbage can attract bees, flies, and other insects, so you should avoid being near these.

Warning

If you find bed bug bites, it’s best to call a pest control service.
If you are allergic to insect bites or stings, you should wear a medical tag and have an emergency epinephrine injector (EpiPen) on hand. Make sure your friends or family know how to use the EpiPen in case you go into shock and can’t inject yourself.
If you have trouble breathing, swelling or itching in your throat, or trouble swallowing, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. These symptoms could be signs of anaphylaxis.

Steps

Identify the bites of common insects

Treat insect bites

Advice

Warning

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