What do chigger bites look like. How can you differentiate chigger bites from other insect bites. What are the best ways to treat chigger bites and relieve itching. How can you prevent chigger bites while enjoying outdoor activities. Where do chiggers typically live and how can you avoid them. What are the potential complications of chigger bites and when should you seek medical attention. How do chiggers feed on human skin and what causes the intense itching associated with their bites.

Understanding Chiggers: Tiny Mites with a Big Bite

Chiggers, often referred to as “berry bugs” or “red bugs,” are microscopic mites that can cause significant discomfort through their bites. These tiny arachnids are prevalent in many parts of the United States, particularly in the South, Great Plains, and Mid-Atlantic regions. Despite their vibrant red color, chiggers are incredibly small, measuring about the size of a grain of salt, making them nearly impossible to spot with the naked eye.

Dr. Lee Townsend, a professor emeritus of entomology at the University of Kentucky, explains that chiggers are actually immature mites in their larval stage. While there are numerous species of mites, only a select few bite during this early life phase. It’s important to note that while all chiggers are mites, not all mites are chiggers.

How do chiggers feed on human skin?

Unlike many blood-sucking insects, chiggers have a unique feeding method. Instead of piercing the skin to extract blood, they feast on skin cells and tissue. This process involves injecting saliva into the skin, which breaks down and liquefies the cells for easy consumption. It’s this saliva that triggers the intense itching and skin reaction associated with chigger bites.

Identifying Chigger Bites: Key Characteristics and Differences

Distinguishing chigger bites from other insect bites can be challenging, as individual reactions vary. However, there are several telltale signs that can help you identify chigger bites:

• Intense itching: Chigger bites are known for causing extreme itchiness, often described as more severe than most other insect bites.
• Clustered appearance: These bites typically occur in groups, forming clusters of red welts on the skin.
• Location preferences: Chiggers tend to congregate in warm, moist areas of the body such as sock lines, waistbands, armpits, and behind the knees.
• Delayed reaction: The bite marks may not appear immediately, often taking several hours to develop after exposure.

Dr. Michael Merchant, a professor of entomology at Texas A&M University, notes that the intensity of itching from chigger bites is particularly distinctive. If you notice a pattern of bites confined to areas like your sock line, it’s a strong indicator of chigger activity.

Treatment Options for Chigger Bites: Soothing the Itch

While chigger bites can be incredibly uncomfortable, they typically resolve on their own within a few days to a week. However, there are several methods to alleviate the itching and discomfort:

1. Hot shower: Taking a hot shower and thoroughly soaping the affected area can help remove any remaining chiggers and provide temporary relief.
2. Topical treatments: Applying calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream can help reduce itching and inflammation.
3. Cold compresses: Using cold compresses on the affected areas can numb the skin and provide relief from itching.
4. Oral antihistamines: Over-the-counter antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec) can help reduce itching and allergic reactions.
5. Rubbing alcohol: Applying rubbing alcohol to the bites may provide a cooling sensation and help prevent infection.

When should you seek medical attention for chigger bites?

In most cases, chigger bites don’t require medical intervention. However, there are situations where consulting a healthcare professional is advisable:

• Signs of infection: If the bite area becomes increasingly swollen, red, or painful several days after appearance.
• Systemic symptoms: Development of fever or flu-like symptoms in conjunction with the bites.
• Severe reactions: Experiencing hives, vomiting, or nausea in response to the bites.
• Persistent discomfort: If over-the-counter treatments fail to provide relief, a doctor may prescribe stronger topical steroids or even administer steroid injections for severe cases.

Chigger Habitats: Where These Tiny Mites Thrive

Understanding where chiggers live is crucial for avoiding encounters with these pesky mites. Chiggers prefer environments that offer protection from direct sunlight and maintain high humidity levels. Common habitats include:

• Forested areas with dense vegetation
• Overgrown fields and meadows
• Tall grass and weedy areas
• Shaded locations near water sources
• Areas frequented by small mammals, which serve as their primary hosts

Dr. Townsend emphasizes that well-maintained lawns and landscaped areas are less likely to harbor chiggers. These mites thrive in undisturbed, natural settings where they can find ample shade and moisture.

Prevention Strategies: Enjoying the Outdoors Without Chigger Bites

While chiggers can be a nuisance, there are several effective strategies to minimize your risk of bites while enjoying outdoor activities:

1. Wear protective clothing: Long sleeves, long pants tucked into socks, and closed-toe shoes can create a physical barrier against chiggers.
2. Use insect repellents: Apply EPA-approved repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin and clothing.
3. Treat clothing: Consider using permethrin-treated clothing or applying permethrin to your outdoor gear for added protection.
4. Stick to cleared paths: When hiking or walking in natural areas, stay on well-maintained trails and avoid brushing against vegetation.
5. Shower promptly: After spending time outdoors, take a hot shower and thoroughly wash your skin and hair to remove any potential chiggers.
6. Wash clothing: Launder clothes worn outdoors in hot water to kill any chiggers that may be present.

Are there any natural repellents effective against chiggers?

While scientific evidence is limited, some people report success with natural repellents such as essential oils of tea tree, eucalyptus, or citronella. However, these may not be as effective or long-lasting as synthetic repellents and should be used with caution, as they can cause skin irritation in some individuals.

The Science Behind Chigger Bites: Understanding the Itch

The intense itching associated with chigger bites is a result of a complex biological process. When a chigger attaches to the skin, it injects saliva containing powerful enzymes. These enzymes break down skin cells, creating a small, hardened tube called a stylostome through which the chigger feeds.

The body’s immune system recognizes these enzymes as foreign substances and mounts an allergic response, leading to the characteristic red, swollen, and intensely itchy welts. This reaction can persist even after the chigger has detached, which typically occurs after a few days of feeding.

Why do chigger bites seem to get itchier at night?

Many people report that chigger bites feel more intense during the evening and night hours. This perception may be due to several factors:

• Diurnal cortisol fluctuations: Cortisol, an anti-inflammatory hormone, naturally decreases in the evening, potentially allowing for increased inflammation and itching.
• Fewer distractions: With less activity and stimuli at night, people may become more aware of the itching sensation.
• Increased blood flow: Lying down can increase blood flow to the skin, potentially exacerbating the itching sensation.

Misconceptions and Myths About Chiggers

Several common misconceptions surround chiggers and their bites. Let’s address some of these myths to better understand these tiny arachnids:

Do chiggers burrow under the skin?

Contrary to popular belief, chiggers do not burrow into the skin or lay eggs there. They remain on the surface, feeding through the stylostome they create. Once they’ve finished feeding, they naturally detach and fall off.

Can you suffocate chiggers with nail polish?

This is a persistent myth that suggests applying nail polish to chigger bites will suffocate the mites. However, since chiggers don’t burrow under the skin, this method is ineffective and may even irritate the skin further.

Are chiggers visible to the naked eye?

While adult chiggers can sometimes be seen without magnification, the larval stage that bites humans is typically too small to be visible. They appear as tiny, reddish or orange specks, often mistaken for grains of sand or dirt.

Global Perspective: Chiggers Around the World

While this article primarily focuses on chiggers found in the United States, it’s important to note that these mites exist globally, with some variations in species and associated risks:

• Asia and the Pacific: In some parts of Asia, chiggers can transmit scrub typhus, a potentially serious bacterial infection.
• Europe: European chiggers, while less common, can still cause irritating bites.
• Australia: The Australian paralysis tick, which is related to chiggers, can cause more severe reactions and even paralysis in some cases.
• South America: Chiggers in tropical regions of South America can be particularly numerous and aggressive.

Travelers to these regions should be aware of the local chigger species and take appropriate precautions, especially in rural or wilderness areas.

How do chigger populations vary with climate change?

Climate change may be affecting chigger populations and distribution. Warmer temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns could potentially extend the range of chiggers into new areas or alter their seasonal activity. However, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term impacts of climate change on chigger ecology.

Chiggers and Pets: Protecting Your Furry Friends

While chiggers primarily affect humans, they can also bite and irritate pets, especially dogs and outdoor cats. Here are some considerations for pet owners:

• Symptoms in pets: Chigger bites on animals may appear as red, itchy bumps, often found on the ears, face, feet, or belly.
• Prevention: Regular use of veterinarian-approved flea and tick preventatives may also help protect against chiggers.
• Treatment: If you suspect your pet has chigger bites, consult with a veterinarian for appropriate treatment options, which may include medicated baths or topical treatments.

Can pets bring chiggers into the home?

While it’s possible for pets to carry chiggers into the home, the risk is relatively low. Chiggers prefer to remain in their natural outdoor habitats. However, regularly grooming and checking your pets after outdoor activities can help minimize this risk.

By understanding the nature of chiggers, recognizing their bites, and implementing effective prevention strategies, you can significantly reduce your risk of encountering these tiny but troublesome mites. Remember, while chigger bites can be intensely itchy and uncomfortable, they are generally harmless and will resolve on their own with time and proper care. If you experience severe symptoms or have concerns about a potential infection, don’t hesitate to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice and treatment.

How to Know When It’s a Chigger Bite

Sometimes called “berry bugs” or “red bugs,” chiggers populate large sections of the United States — including all of the South, the Great Plains, and the Mid-Atlantic. Though they’re often bright red in color, chiggers are only about the size of a grain of salt — making them almost impossible to spot either in the wild or on a person’s skin.

“Chiggers are a type of immature mite that spend time feeding on small mammals, and also on humans,” says Lee Townsend, PhD, a professor emeritus of entomology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Dr. Townsend says that there are many different species of mites, but only a few types that bite during their larval stage. It’s these that are referred to as chiggers. “Not all mites are chiggers, but all chiggers are mites,” he adds.

Unlike mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting bugs, chiggers don’t attach themselves to mammals in order to suck blood. Instead, chiggers feast on skin cells and tissue, Townsend explains. But much like mosquitoes and ticks, chiggers can induce a nasty skin reaction. That reaction, he says, comes from the chigger’s saliva, which they use to break down and digest the cells and tissues they devour.

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Chigger Bites Look a Lot Like Other Bug Bites, So Here’s How to Correctly ID Them

As with all bug bites, there’s some person-to-person variation when it comes to chigger bites.

“Different people react differently to bites, so it can be really difficult to tell the difference between bites of things like mosquitoes from chiggers,” Townsend says. Especially if you’re bitten by a lone chigger, the red welt that forms may look more or less identical to a mosquito bite.

But there are bite characteristics that can show up that can help differentiate chiggers from other bugs. For one thing, chigger bites tend to take itchiness to a whole new level. “I don’t know of many things as intensely itchy as a chigger bite,” says Michael Merchant, PhD, a professor of entomology at Texas A&M University in Dallas.

Also, chiggers tend to latch onto a person’s skin in groups. You won’t be able to see them without the aid of a magnifying glass. But you may feel some irritation when they first start feeding. And the resulting bites often appear as clusters of red welts — as opposed to a single itchy lump or a red rash. (1) If you have a swath of itchy skin lumps that looks like many mosquito bites or welts, it’s a good bet you’re dealing with chiggers. (2)

Another characteristic of these bites: chiggers like to gather in areas that are hot and sweaty — like the insides of socks, at waistlines, inside armpits, or behind the knees, Dr. Merchant says. “If you see a pattern of bites only where your sock was, that’s probably chiggers,” he adds.

What Can I Do to Treat Chigger Bites and Relieve the Itching?

While itchy and uncomfortable — not to mention unsightly — chigger bites tend to resolve on their own within a week — and often within a few days. (3) “Once they’re done feeding, [chiggers] drop off on their own,” Townsend says. He recommends taking a hot shower and soaping the area thoroughly. (This can remove chiggers before they’ve had the chance to cause welts and irritation, he says.) Applying topical calamine cream can also help reduce the itch, he adds. So can cold compresses, oral antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec), and rubbing alcohol. (4)

RELATED: What Is an Antihistamine?

Do you need to see a doctor? In most cases, no. “Chiggers can transmit diseases in some other parts of the world, but not here,” Townsend says of domestic chiggers.

That said, chigger bites can put a person at risk for a secondary infection. That could happen if you scratch the bite (or bites) and break open the skin, allowing in bacteria, Merchant says.

If the swelling or redness around a bite is getting worse several days after it first appeared, or if you notice a fever or other flu-like symptoms, those may be signs of an infection. The same is true if the bite is leaking fluid, has developed a yellow, golden crust, or has become painful, or if you’re experiencing hives, vomiting, or nausea — see a doctor. (5)

Doctors can prescribe prescription topical steroids or even inject dilute steroids into intensely itchy bites if you don’t experience relief from over-the-counter options.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Bug Bites and Disease

Yes, You Can Avoid Getting Chigger Bites and Still Enjoy the Outdoors

Chiggers usually live in shaded or overgrown areas like forests and wild fields, Townsend says. “They need shelter from the sun and they like high humidity, so they tend to like tall grasses and places where there are mice and small mammals around,” he says. “You’re not going to run into many of them out in mowed or landscaped areas.”

For that reason, keeping yards or outdoor areas well-tended and free of overgrowth and brush are effective ways to keep chigger populations to a minimum. Staying on walking paths — as opposed to making your way through tall grass or wilder areas — is another way to avoid picking up chiggers. (6)

If you’re going to be tramping through woods or picking fruit in a field, those are times when you’ll want to take extra precautions to guard yourself against chiggers. Townsend recommends wearing long pants and tucking them into your socks. “Repellents also help,” he says, mentioning common types like DEET, which is also used to repel mosquitoes and ticks. Be sure to use those repellents on your shoes and lower legs — places chiggers tend to latch on.

And again, taking a hot, soapy shower after you’ve been in chigger-infested areas can help remove them before they cause skin irritation, Townsend says.

Chiggers are a nuisance — and their bites can be incredibly itchy. But if you can resist scratching those bites, they don’t cause any long-term issues or health complications.

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Common Spider Bite Symptoms: Household, Wolf Spider

While some spider bites cause only redness and itching, others are more dangerous. Here’s how to identify spiders that bite — and what to do if you get bitten.

Medically Reviewed

There are more than 50,000 types of spiders in the world. All spiders have eight legs, no wings, and only two body parts: a thorax and an abdomen. They also all have fangs and enough venom to kill the insects that make up their diet. But only a handful of spiders have fangs and venom that can penetrate human skin — including the brown recluse spider, hobo spider, camel spider, wolf spider, black widow spider, and banana spider. Most spiders are harmless and will bite only if they feel threatened. But depending on the spider and its victim, spider bites can cause anything from mild itching and redness to a reaction that becomes a medical emergency. Here’s detailed info on some common spiders and their bites.

The Brown Recluse Spider

The brown recluse spider gets its name from its habit of living in dark corners inside or outside homes, such as in woodpiles, closets, attics, and basements. This spider is more common in areas that have warm and dry climates, like the south and central areas of the United States. The brown recluse is about a half-inch to an inch long, is light brown in color, and has a violin-shaped mark on its back. The distinctive mark gives the spider these other nicknames: the violin spider or fiddleback spider.

The Brown Recluse Spider Bite

The brown recluse spider’s venom may cause burning pain and itching within several hours after a bite. The actual bite may cause a stinging sensation or not be felt at all. The bite has the appearance of a bull’s-eye, with a central blister that scabs and falls off, leaving a small ulcer. Possible symptoms include body aches and fever. Children may be at risk for an allergic reaction to the venom. To treat a brown recluse spider bite, immediately wash it and apply an ice pack. You can also use an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. In most cases, symptoms resolve within 48 hours, but the central ulcer may take weeks to heal.

The Black Widow Spider

The black widow spider is about the same size as the brown recluse spider (a half-inch to an inch long) and also likes dark places. This spider is usually found outside in sheds, barns, or woodpiles. The black widow can be identified by her shiny black color and a red or orange hourglass marking on the underside of her abdomen. Only the bite of the female spider is dangerous. Black widows can be found throughout the United States but are most common in warmer and drier areas.

The Black Widow Spider Bite

The victim of a black widow spider’s bite usually feels it right away, and there may be fang marks and swelling. If you are bitten, you should clean and ice the bite. If the spider has injected venom, you may experience muscle aches and cramps that spread from the bite area to the rest of the body. Possible symptoms include nausea, difficulty breathing, and weakness. If someone bitten by a black widow spider experiences muscle cramps, emergency medical care may include blood pressure medication, muscle relaxants, and, in rare cases, antivenin — a biologic product created to counteract the effects of a spider’s venom. Serious reactions are rare, but are most common in children or very elderly people.

The Hobo Spider

The hobo spider is not native to the United States. It arrived in the northwest from Europe and is now common in California, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The spider is about one-half inch long and has long legs that allow it to move quickly on the ground. Its upper body is brown and its abdomen is grayish with yellow markings. The hobo likes to live in cracks or holes both inside and outside.

The Hobo Spider Bite

The hobo bite resembles the brown recluse bite, with a central blister that scabs and ulcerates, surrounded by a ring of swollen discoloration. Within an hour after the bite, the hobo spider’s venom can cause a numbing sensation and muscle or joint aches. After about three days, a black scab falls off, leaving an open, slow-healing type of wound.

The Wolf Spider

The wolf spider is common all over the United States. It doesn’t weave webs, and it gets its name from its habit of stalking prey like a wolf. The wolf spider is brown or gray in color and can be 3 to 4 inches across. Because some wolf spiders are large and hairy, they are sometimes mistaken for tarantulas. The female may be identified by a white egg sac that she carries with her. This spider prefers to live outdoors on the ground in loose sand or gravel, but it may wander indoors and be spotted running across the floor.

The Wolf Spider Bite

The wolf spider’s bite can cause pain, redness, and swelling. Its large fangs may tear the skin, which can become infected and cause lymph nodes to swell. Treatment of a wolf spider bite includes cleansing and icing. Swelling and pain can last up to 10 days, but medical attention is usually not necessary unless the victim is a small child or someone who is sick or elderly.

The Camel Spider

Camel spiders are sometimes called wind scorpions or sun spiders, but in reality, they are neither scorpions nor spiders. They belong to a group of desert creatures called solpugids, and they have elongated bodies that make them look more like scorpions than spiders. The name, derived from Latin, means “escape from the sun.” In the United States, camel spiders can be found in the deserts of the southwest. They are light brown in color, can be up to 5 inches long, and can run at about 10 miles per hour — often making a screaming sound while doing so.

The Camel Spider Bite

During the Iraq war, soldiers described huge camel spiders that seemed to run at them in a screaming attack mode. In reality these creatures, though scary in appearance, are not dangerous to humans, and if they run at someone, they are probably just seeking shade in the person’s shadow. They do not have any venom and do not bite except in self-defense. A bite is very unlikely and would not be dangerous to a person if it did happen.

The Banana Spider

The banana spider is found in warm regions of the United States from North Carolina through the Gulf states. It lives in woodlands and forests and produces large, intricate orb webs that glow golden in the sun. The female has a long shape that resembles a banana. She can be about three inches long and has yellow spots on her tan cylindrical body and brown and orange tufts on her legs. The male banana spider is an inconspicuous dark brown and less than an inch long.

The Banana Spider Bite

The banana spider is often confused with the Brazilian wandering spider, which is found among bananas shipped to the United States from South America; neither spider is native to North America. Although the Brazilian spider bite can be dangerous, the banana spider bite is not. Banana spiders will bite only if held or pinched. The bite produces mild stinging and redness (similar to a bee sting) that quickly goes away.

Insect bite prevention

No summer is complete without insect bites. This is not only unpleasant, but sometimes dangerous to health.

The immune system of each person reacts to bites in different ways: from swelling, itching and pain to anaphylaxis. An anaphylactic reaction can develop after a bite from any insect. Fortunately, this is rare, but people who have experienced any kind of allergic reaction before should be especially vigilant.

An anaphylactic reaction occurs at lightning speed. A person feels weak, then symptoms quickly increase: difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, loss of consciousness.

If an anaphylactic reaction occurs, emergency medical attention is needed, as this condition is life-threatening.

A milder allergic reaction to insect bites manifests itself in the form of itching, inflammation of the bite site. When there are many such bites, it causes great discomfort. Often there are complications – the addition of a secondary infection.

5 common insect bites in summer

Mosquito bites are accompanied by severe unbearable itching – this is a reaction to the proteins contained in the saliva of the insect.

In some tropical countries, mosquito bites can transmit diseases such as malaria, Zika fever, Dengue fever, yellow fever.

Wasps, bees and hornets have stingers for self-defense. The sting contains a poisonous substance that enters the bite site, causing severe pain and burning. At the site of the bite, swelling, inflammation, redness and itching may appear. The most dangerous complication of such bites is anaphylaxis. The stings of bees, wasps, bumblebees and hornets are very dangerous for children.

Horseflies attack in hot stuffy weather. Their bite is quite painful, it can cause a sharp burning sensation. Often there is a feeling of itching, inflammation and swelling in the bite area. There may even be a bruise.

There are about 4,000 species of biting midges . The smallest of the flies that attack humans can range in size from 1 to 3 mm. Despite their tiny size, midge bites can be irritating and even cause local pain.

Flea bites leave small sores on the skin, usually several, next to each other, often on the ankles and legs.

First Aid

• apply cold
• remove tip
• clean with antiseptic solution
• do not scratch
• if necessary, drink an antihistamine (recommended by a doctor, observing the age dosage)

Seek medical attention immediately, if you have had a severe allergic reaction to an insect sting in the past, or if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• sudden urticaria
• swelling of the face
• labored breathing
• dizziness
• fainting

Basic precautions for preventing insect bites

Remain calm and walk away slowly if there are wasps, hornets or bees nearby – do not wave your arms and do not try to drive them away.

Wear closed clothing, do not walk barefoot on the grass.

Apply insect repellant to exposed skin or clothing as directed – repellants containing 50% DEET (diethyltoluamide) are most effective.

Avoid using strong perfumes, they can attract insects.

Be careful of flowering plants, trash, standing water, and open areas where food is served.

Avoid camping near bodies of water, do not keep containers filled with water in summer cottages – mosquitoes and horseflies are usually found near water.

In the evening, do not open the windows wide open if they are not equipped with a mosquito net.

It is also recommended that you take extra precautions if you are traveling to a part of the world where there is a risk of serious insect-borne diseases.

Let insects distract you from summer joys as little as possible this year!

How to recognize an insect by its bite

Not all bites are mosquito bites. In total, there are about 4 million different types of insects on Earth, and the poor mosquito has to take the rap for everyone, since he is always the main suspect in the blister, itching and swelling. Let’s not forget about fleas, ants and bedbugs. It is with the latter that we will begin our cognitive excursion.

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Health

Insects

Children’s health

Bed bugs

Bite site:

Bite site with a clear contour, swollen, with a bump, in the center of which a puncture can be seen. It is through him that the bug feasts on your blood. The parasite goes hunting collectively, so bites go in a “path”, and there can be several dozen such paths. These babies prefer open areas of the body: neck, inner elbows and knees, back and abdomen. When combing, severely itchy blisters or urticaria appear at the site of the bite.

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Bee

Place of the bite:

At the place of the bite, you will always find evidence in the form of a sting that comes out of the insect’s body. It contains a reservoir of poison that will enter your body for a few more minutes. What we see: a small itchy white spot and swelling that persists for 3 to 7 days.

Wasp

Place of bite:

The wasp never leaves a sting, which distinguishes its bite from a bee. In the rest, we also see a characteristic white thick spot and swelling of the tissues, which does not subside from 3 to 7 days.

Hornet

Bite:

These striped bees, unlike normal bees, do not leave a stinger and can attack several times in a row. The bite site swells, a red spot forms around it, the skin around the bite site is hot to the touch. With a high concentration of poison, a severe allergic reaction is possible, up to anaphylactic shock.

Lice

Place of bite:

Small red spots, as a rule, are located on the scalp, itch strongly and quickly scab over when scratched. And their eggs (nits) look like small white spots that can easily be confused with dandruff.

Flea

Place of bite:

Flea bites where it can jump. Therefore, she has to be content with ankles, feet and shins. The flea bite first looks like a small red dot, around which then a halo of reddening of the skin appears.

Ant

Place of the bite:

The bites are blister-like and most often located in the pelvis, shins and elbows. The affected area quickly turns red and swells. During an insect attack, a person feels something similar to a mosquito bite.

Tick

Place of bite:

The most likely place for the parasite to stick to a person: groin area, lower back and abdomen, chest, neck and armpits, ear area. At the time of the bite, under the action of the saliva of the tick, a local allergic reaction and inflammation develop on the skin. The suction site is painless and is manifested by reddening of a round shape. The perpetrator rarely leaves the battlefield.