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Bite marks from insects. Chigger Bites: Identification, Treatment, and Prevention of These Pesky Bug Bites

What do chigger bites look like. How can you differentiate chigger bites from other insect bites. What are the most effective treatments for chigger bites. 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. When should you seek medical attention for chigger bites.

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What Are Chiggers and Where Do They Live?

Chiggers, often referred to as “berry bugs” or “red bugs,” are tiny mites that populate large areas of the United States, including the South, Great Plains, and Mid-Atlantic regions. These minuscule creatures, barely visible to the naked eye, are about the size of a grain of salt and often appear bright red.

Dr. Lee Townsend, a professor emeritus of entomology at the University of Kentucky, explains: “Chiggers are a type of immature mite that spend time feeding on small mammals, and also on humans.” It’s important to note that not all mites are chiggers, but all chiggers are mites.

Where do chiggers typically reside? These tiny arachnids prefer:

  • Shaded or overgrown areas
  • Forests and wild fields
  • Environments with high humidity
  • Tall grasses
  • Areas populated by mice and small mammals

Interestingly, you’re less likely to encounter chiggers in well-maintained, landscaped areas. They thrive in natural, undisturbed habitats where they can find shelter from the sun and maintain the humidity levels they require.

How Chiggers Feed and Cause Skin Reactions

Unlike many biting insects, chiggers don’t feed on blood. Instead, they consume skin cells and tissue. Dr. Townsend clarifies, “Chiggers feast on skin cells and tissue.” To accomplish this, chiggers use their saliva to break down and digest the cells they consume.

Why do chigger bites cause such intense reactions? The answer lies in the chigger’s saliva. When a chigger bites, it injects its saliva into the skin, which causes a reaction similar to that of mosquito or tick bites. This reaction can lead to intense itching and skin irritation.

The Chigger Feeding Process

  1. Chiggers attach to the skin, often in groups
  2. They inject saliva to break down skin cells
  3. The chiggers feed on the liquefied skin tissue
  4. Once finished feeding, they drop off on their own
  5. The body’s reaction to the saliva causes itching and welts

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 characteristics that can help identify chigger bites:

  • Intense itching: Dr. Michael Merchant, a professor of entomology at Texas A&M University, states, “I don’t know of many things as intensely itchy as a chigger bite.”
  • Clustered appearance: Chigger bites often appear in groups or clusters of red welts.
  • Location: Bites tend to occur in areas where clothing fits tightly or where skin folds create a warm, moist environment.
  • Pattern: If you notice a pattern of bites only where your sock was, it’s likely chiggers.

How can you differentiate chigger bites from mosquito bites? While a single chigger bite may look similar to a mosquito bite, the key differences lie in the intensity of itching and the tendency for chigger bites to appear in clusters.

Treating Chigger Bites: Relief and Home Remedies

Although chigger bites can be incredibly uncomfortable, they typically resolve on their own within a week, often within just a few days. However, there are several steps you can take to alleviate symptoms and promote healing:

  1. Take a hot shower and thoroughly soap the affected area
  2. Apply topical calamine cream to reduce itching
  3. Use cold compresses for relief
  4. Try oral antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec)
  5. Apply rubbing alcohol to the bites

Are there any natural remedies for chigger bites? While scientific evidence is limited, some people find relief using:

  • Aloe vera gel
  • Tea tree oil (diluted)
  • Baking soda paste
  • Colloidal oatmeal baths

It’s important to avoid scratching the bites, as this can lead to secondary infections.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Chigger Bites

In most cases, chigger bites don’t require medical intervention. However, there are situations where you should consult a healthcare professional:

  • Worsening swelling or redness several days after the bite appeared
  • Fever or flu-like symptoms
  • Bites that are leaking fluid or have developed a yellow, golden crust
  • Increased pain at the bite site
  • Hives, vomiting, or nausea

What treatments might a doctor prescribe for severe chigger bites? In cases of intense itching or discomfort, a healthcare provider may recommend:

  • Prescription topical steroids
  • Steroid injections for particularly troublesome bites

Preventing Chigger Bites: Strategies for Outdoor Enthusiasts

While chiggers can be a nuisance, there are several effective strategies to prevent bites and enjoy outdoor activities:

  1. Wear appropriate clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes can provide a barrier against chiggers.
  2. Tuck in clothing: Tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants to minimize exposed skin.
  3. Use insect repellents: Apply EPA-approved repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
  4. Avoid high-risk areas: Stay on cleared trails and avoid tall grass or overgrown areas.
  5. Shower after outdoor activities: Take a hot shower and thoroughly wash your skin and clothing after spending time outdoors.

How effective are natural repellents against chiggers? While some people swear by natural alternatives like essential oils, their efficacy against chiggers is not well-established. For maximum protection, stick to EPA-approved repellents.

The Ecology of Chiggers: Understanding Their Life Cycle

To better comprehend the nature of chigger bites, it’s helpful to understand the life cycle of these tiny arachnids:

  1. Egg stage: Adult female chiggers lay eggs in soil
  2. Larval stage: Eggs hatch into six-legged larvae (the biting stage)
  3. Nymphal stage: After feeding, larvae molt into eight-legged nymphs
  4. Adult stage: Nymphs develop into adults, which do not bite humans

Why do only larval chiggers bite humans? The larval stage is the only time in the chigger life cycle when they require a meal from a host to continue their development. Adult chiggers feed on small insects and their eggs, not on mammals.

Seasonal Activity of Chiggers

When are chiggers most active? Chigger activity typically peaks during:

  • Late spring
  • Summer
  • Early fall

However, in warmer regions, chiggers may remain active throughout the year. Understanding their seasonal patterns can help in planning outdoor activities and implementing prevention strategies.

Chiggers and Disease Transmission: Separating Fact from Fiction

A common concern among those who experience chigger bites is the potential for disease transmission. Dr. Townsend addresses this issue, stating, “Chiggers can transmit diseases in some other parts of the world, but not here,” referring to chiggers found in the United States.

What are the primary health concerns associated with chigger bites?

  • Intense itching and discomfort
  • Potential for secondary bacterial infections due to scratching
  • Allergic reactions in sensitive individuals

While chiggers in the U.S. do not transmit diseases, it’s crucial to monitor bites for signs of infection and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or persist.

Chiggers in Other Parts of the World

How do chiggers in other regions differ from those in the United States? In some parts of Asia and the Pacific Islands, certain species of chiggers can transmit scrub typhus, a potentially serious bacterial infection. However, this is not a concern with North American chigger species.

Debunking Chigger Myths: Common Misconceptions

Several myths and misconceptions surround chiggers and their bites. Let’s address some of the most common ones:

  1. Myth: Chiggers burrow under the skin
  2. Fact: Chiggers do not burrow into the skin. They attach to the surface and feed on liquefied skin cells.

  3. Myth: Applying nail polish to chigger bites will suffocate them
  4. Fact: This is unnecessary and ineffective. Chiggers detach after feeding and do not remain on the skin.

  5. Myth: Chiggers are invisible to the naked eye
  6. Fact: While very small, chiggers can be seen with the naked eye, appearing as tiny red dots.

  7. Myth: Only children get chigger bites
  8. Fact: People of all ages can be bitten by chiggers when exposed to their habitats.

Why do these myths persist? Many of these misconceptions stem from outdated information or confusion with other parasites. It’s important to rely on current, scientific information when dealing with chiggers and their bites.

The Impact of Climate Change on Chigger Populations

As global temperatures rise and weather patterns shift, the distribution and behavior of many insects and arachnids, including chiggers, may be affected. Consider the following potential impacts:

  • Extended active seasons in temperate regions
  • Expansion of chigger habitats into new areas
  • Changes in chigger population densities
  • Alterations in host-parasite relationships

How might climate change affect human exposure to chiggers? As temperatures warm, people may spend more time outdoors and in natural areas, potentially increasing their exposure to chiggers. Additionally, changes in vegetation patterns could create new chigger habitats in previously unaffected areas.

Monitoring and Research

What steps are being taken to understand the impact of climate change on chiggers? Researchers and public health officials are:

  • Conducting long-term population studies
  • Mapping changes in chigger distribution
  • Analyzing the relationship between climate variables and chigger activity
  • Developing predictive models for future chigger populations

This ongoing research will be crucial in developing effective strategies to manage chigger populations and prevent bites in a changing climate.

Chiggers and Pet Health: Protecting Your Furry Friends

While much of the focus on chiggers centers on their impact on humans, it’s important to consider how these tiny arachnids affect our pets. Dogs and cats that spend time outdoors can also be targets for chiggers.

How do chigger bites affect pets?

  • Intense itching and scratching
  • Red, raised bumps on the skin
  • Potential for secondary infections due to excessive scratching
  • Discomfort and irritability

What steps can pet owners take to protect their animals from chiggers?

  1. Use pet-safe insect repellents recommended by veterinarians
  2. Limit pet access to areas with tall grass or dense vegetation
  3. Regularly groom and inspect pets after outdoor activities
  4. Consult with a veterinarian about preventative treatments

If you suspect your pet has been bitten by chiggers, consult with a veterinarian for appropriate treatment options. They may recommend medicated shampoos, antihistamines, or other treatments to relieve itching and prevent complications.

Chiggers and Wildlife

How do chiggers impact local wildlife populations? Chiggers play a role in the ecosystem as parasites of various small mammals and birds. While most wild animals have developed some level of tolerance to chigger bites, heavy infestations can cause discomfort and potentially impact the health of individual animals.

Researchers studying wildlife populations often consider chigger prevalence as one of many factors influencing animal health and behavior in natural habitats.

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.

RELATED: 7 Skin Conditions That Look Contagious, but Aren’t

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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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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Netlenka

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.