Bug bites on foot. Chigger Bites on Foot: Identification, Treatment, and Prevention Guide
How do chigger bites differ from other insect bites. What are the most effective treatments for chigger bites. How can you prevent chigger bites while enjoying outdoor activities.
Understanding Chiggers: Tiny Mites with a Big Bite
Chiggers, often referred to as “berry bugs” or “red bugs,” are minuscule arachnids that can cause significant discomfort through their bites. These tiny creatures, barely visible to the naked eye, are prevalent across vast regions of the United States, including the South, Great Plains, and Mid-Atlantic areas. Despite their diminutive size – comparable to a grain of salt – chiggers can leave a lasting impression on those unfortunate enough to encounter them.
Dr. Lee Townsend, 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 crucial to understand that while all chiggers are mites, not all mites are chiggers. Only certain species bite during their larval stage, earning the chigger moniker.
The Feeding Habits of Chiggers
Unlike many blood-sucking insects, chiggers have a unique feeding mechanism. They don’t pierce the skin to extract blood; instead, they feast on skin cells and tissue. This process involves injecting saliva into the skin, which breaks down cells for easy consumption. It’s this saliva that triggers the intense itching and skin reactions 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, certain characteristics can help identify chigger bites:
- Intense itching: Chigger bites are notorious for causing extreme itchiness, often described as more severe than mosquito bites.
- Clustered appearance: Chiggers typically feed in groups, resulting in clusters of red welts rather than isolated bumps.
- Location preferences: These mites favor warm, moist areas such as sock lines, waistbands, armpits, and behind the knees.
- Delayed reaction: Unlike immediate mosquito bite reactions, chigger bite symptoms may not appear for several hours after exposure.
Dr. Michael Merchant, Professor of Entomology at Texas A&M University, notes, “I don’t know of many things as intensely itchy as a chigger bite.” This extreme itchiness, combined with the clustered pattern of bites, can be a strong indicator of chigger activity.
The Life Cycle of Chiggers and Their Impact on Humans
Understanding the chigger life cycle provides insight into their biting behavior and helps explain why their presence can be so troublesome for humans. Chiggers go through four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. It’s only during the larval stage that they pose a threat to humans and other mammals.
Larval Stage: The Biting Phase
When chigger eggs hatch, the larvae that emerge are six-legged and extremely small, measuring about 1/150th of an inch. These larvae need to feed on skin cells to progress to the next stage of their life cycle. They’re most active during warm months, typically from spring to fall, depending on the region.
Once a larval chigger attaches to a host, it injects its saliva into the skin. This saliva contains enzymes that break down skin cells, creating a small, hardened feeding tube called a stylostome. The chigger uses this tube to suck up the liquefied skin cells. This feeding process can last for several days if the chigger isn’t dislodged.
After the Bite
Contrary to popular belief, chiggers do not burrow into the skin or suck blood. Once they’ve finished feeding, they drop off naturally. The itching and redness that persist are due to the body’s reaction to the chigger’s saliva and the stylostome left behind.
Treatment Options for Chigger Bites: Alleviating Discomfort
While chigger bites can be incredibly uncomfortable, they typically resolve on their own within a week, often in just a few days. However, there are several steps you can take to alleviate symptoms and promote faster healing:
- Hot shower: Taking a hot shower and thoroughly soaping the affected area can remove any remaining chiggers and provide temporary relief.
- Topical treatments: Applying calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream can help reduce itching and inflammation.
- Cold compresses: Using cold compresses on the affected areas can numb the skin and reduce itching sensation.
- Oral antihistamines: Over-the-counter antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec) can help manage itching and allergic reactions.
- Rubbing alcohol: Applying rubbing alcohol to the bites may provide a cooling sensation and help prevent infection.
Dr. Townsend advises, “Once they’re done feeding, [chiggers] drop off on their own.” This means that treatment focuses on managing symptoms rather than removing the mites themselves.
When to Seek Medical Attention
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 swelling or redness worsens after several days, or if you notice pus or increased pain.
- Systemic symptoms: Fever, flu-like symptoms, hives, vomiting, or nausea could indicate a more severe reaction or secondary infection.
- Persistent discomfort: If over-the-counter treatments don’t provide relief, a doctor may prescribe stronger topical steroids or even steroid injections for severe cases.
Preventing Chigger Bites: Strategies for Outdoor Enthusiasts
While chiggers can put a damper on outdoor activities, there are several effective strategies to minimize your risk of encounters:
Understanding Chigger Habitats
Chiggers thrive in specific environments. Dr. Townsend explains, “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.” Knowing where chiggers are likely to be found can help you avoid these areas or take extra precautions when venturing into them.
Protective Clothing
Wearing appropriate clothing can create a physical barrier against chiggers:
- Long sleeves and pants: Cover as much skin as possible, tucking pants into socks.
- Light-colored clothing: This makes it easier to spot any chiggers that may have hitched a ride.
- Tight-weave fabrics: These are more difficult for chiggers to penetrate.
Insect Repellents
Applying insect repellents can be an effective deterrent against chiggers:
- DEET-based repellents: These are highly effective against chiggers and other biting insects.
- Permethrin: This can be applied to clothing and gear for long-lasting protection.
- Natural alternatives: Some people find success with essential oil-based repellents, though their efficacy may vary.
Post-Outdoor Precautions
After spending time in chigger-prone areas, take these steps to minimize the risk of bites:
- Shower promptly: A hot shower with soap can wash away any chiggers before they have a chance to bite.
- Wash clothing: Launder clothes in hot water to kill any hitchhiking chiggers.
- Inspect skin: Check for any signs of bites, particularly in warm, moist areas of the body.
The Ecology of Chiggers: Their Role in the Environment
While chiggers may be a nuisance to humans, they play a significant role in their ecosystems. Understanding their place in nature can provide a broader perspective on these tiny arachnids.
Chiggers in the Food Web
Chiggers serve as a food source for various predators, including:
- Other mites and small arachnids
- Certain species of ants
- Small birds
- Some amphibians
Their presence in an ecosystem can be an indicator of biodiversity and environmental health.
Ecological Benefits
Despite their negative impact on humans, chiggers contribute to their environments in several ways:
- Decomposition: Adult chiggers feed on decomposing plant material, aiding in nutrient cycling.
- Population control: By feeding on small mammals, chiggers may help regulate populations of certain species.
- Soil health: Their activities can contribute to soil aeration and the distribution of organic matter.
Myths and Misconceptions About Chiggers: Separating Fact from Fiction
Many misconceptions surround chiggers, leading to misunderstandings about their behavior and how to deal with their bites. Let’s address some common myths:
Myth 1: Chiggers Burrow Under the Skin
Contrary to popular belief, chiggers do not burrow into the skin or lay eggs there. They attach to the skin surface and feed through a stylostome, dropping off after feeding.
Myth 2: Nail Polish Suffocates Chiggers
Applying nail polish to chigger bites is an old wives’ tale. By the time bites appear, chiggers have already detached. Nail polish won’t provide relief and may irritate the skin further.
Myth 3: Chiggers Are Invisible to the Naked Eye
While very small, chiggers are visible without magnification. They appear as tiny, bright red specks, though spotting them on skin is challenging due to their size.
Myth 4: Chiggers Transmit Diseases
In North America, chiggers do not transmit diseases to humans. However, in some parts of Asia, certain species can transmit scrub typhus.
Global Distribution of Chiggers: A Worldwide Nuisance
Chiggers are not unique to North America; they are found in various regions around the world, adapting to different climates and ecosystems.
Chiggers in Different Continents
- North America: Prevalent in the southern and central United States, with some species found as far north as Canada.
- South America: Various species inhabit tropical and subtropical regions.
- Europe: Less common but present in some areas, particularly in warmer southern regions.
- Asia: Diverse species are found across the continent, with some capable of transmitting diseases.
- Australia: Known as “scrub itch mites,” they are common in bushland areas.
- Africa: Present in many regions, particularly in areas with suitable humidity and vegetation.
Climate Change and Chigger Distribution
As global temperatures rise due to climate change, the distribution of chiggers may shift. Warmer temperatures could potentially extend their range into new areas, impacting ecosystems and human interactions with these mites.
Understanding the global distribution of chiggers is crucial for travelers and researchers alike. It highlights the importance of taking preventive measures when visiting chigger-prone areas around the world.
Chiggers and Pets: Protecting Our Furry Friends
While chiggers are primarily known for their impact on humans, they can also affect our pets. Dogs and cats, especially those that spend time outdoors, can fall victim to chigger bites.
Symptoms in Pets
Chigger bites on pets may manifest as:
- Intense scratching or biting at specific areas
- Redness or inflammation of the skin
- Small, red bumps, particularly on areas with less fur
- Restlessness or irritability
Protecting Pets from Chiggers
To safeguard your pets from chigger bites, consider the following measures:
- Avoid high-risk areas: Keep pets away from overgrown, humid areas where chiggers thrive.
- Regular grooming: Brush pets thoroughly after outdoor activities to remove any hitchhiking chiggers.
- Pet-safe repellents: Consult with a veterinarian about appropriate insect repellents for pets.
- Maintain yard: Keep your lawn mowed and remove weeds to reduce chigger habitats near your home.
Treatment for Pets
If you suspect your pet has chigger bites:
- Bathe them with a mild, pet-safe shampoo to remove any remaining chiggers.
- Apply a cold compress to soothe irritated areas.
- Consult your veterinarian for appropriate treatments, which may include antihistamines or topical medications.
By understanding how chiggers affect both humans and pets, we can take comprehensive measures to protect all members of our households from these tiny but troublesome mites.
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.
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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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Tips for How to Avoid Getting Mosquito Bites in the First Place
To minimize your bite risk, try to stay indoors at dawn and dusk — times when humidity often peaks.
“The higher the humidity, the better for mosquitoes, so dawn and dusk are times when they tend to be active,” Day says.
He explains that mosquitoes are fragile insects, and their bodies dry out quickly if they’re exposed to arid conditions or extended stretches of bright sunlight (which is another reason they prefer hunting at dawn and dusk, as opposed to midday). They’re also weak fliers, he says, so any kind of breeze or fan-generated wind tends to keep them at bay. If you can find a place that’s exposed to wind, or you have a strong fan handy, both can prevent mosquitoes from biting you.
Long pants and shirtsleeves — especially tightly woven synthetic fabrics such as the types used in so-called athleisure garments — tend to keep mosquitoes off your skin. Repellents also work well, Day says. The CDC suggests looking for products that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and oil of lemon eucalyptus, or p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD). (6) Apply these products to your ankles, wrists, forehead, elbows, and all the other knobby, bony places where the blood is up near the surface of the skin.
Mosquitoes love to feast at these sites.
Also good to keep in mind: Mosquitoes are attracted to both the carbon dioxide humans exhale and the natural odors our bodies produce — stuff like sweat and foot odor. If you’ve been exercising, you’re likely to be both sweaty and producing higher amounts of carbon dioxide. Better to cool off and shower up indoors before heading outside. (7)
Follow all these precautions, and you can largely dodge mosquito bites all summer long.
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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.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/spider-bite-or-skin-infection-83017-v1-5c4552ce46e0fb0001c168f9.png)
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!
articles from specialists of the clinic “Mother and Child”
Vergazova Asya Nikolaevna
Rheumatologist, Endocrinologist
AVICENNA Clinical Hospital, Mother and Child Group of Companies
Mosquitoes, midges (a substance that prevents blood from clotting).
Therefore, the bite site is very itchy.
At the site of a mosquito bite, redness and a small itchy blister appear, the bite itself is not painful. But the bite of the midge is generally not immediately felt. Itching, burning appear the next day, and they are much stronger than with a mosquito bite, plus the midge bite site is very red and swollen.
What to do: To relieve itching, apply something cold (ice). You can also make a compress with a solution of soda (half a teaspoon per glass of water). The bite can be lubricated with an antihistamine cream (gel, ointment) or a special Balm after bites .
Important: care must be taken that the child does not comb the bites, otherwise the wound may become infected. The bite of the midge heals for a long time.
Horsefly
Horsefly is a large fly that loves damp places and sun. The bite of this insect is very painful.
A large blister immediately appears at the site of the bite of , which is very itchy.
What to do: Wash the bite with soap and water or treat with an antiseptic. To relieve itching and swelling, you need to apply cold, the same soda compress, antihistamine cream (gel, ointment) will help.
Important: horseflies are completely harmless in the shade and attack only on sunny lawns, closer to water bodies. If the bite is combed, then it will heal for a long time.
Bees, wasps, bumblebees
Bees, wasps, bumblebees, hornets (huge wasps) – these insects do not just bite, they sting and with the help of a sting introduce a strong protein poison into the human body. When bitten, bees leave a sting in the wound, so they bite once, but the rest of the stingers can attack again.
Burning pain, redness, swelling and itching of the skin appear at the site of the bite , the area around the wound becomes hot, if a bee has bitten, then a sting is visible. Sometimes, due to poison, intoxication or severe allergies can occur: the child has a headache, he is weak and lethargic, he is sick or even vomits, he has impaired coordination, his body temperature rises, rarely, but there is also loss of consciousness.
The same reaction happens if several insects have stung at once.
What to do: remove the sting if there is one (better to do this with tweezers). Wash the wound with soap or treat with hydrogen peroxide. Apply cold. You can lubricate the sore spot with antihistamine cream (ointment, gel) . If the skin develops swelling and severe redness, give the child an antihistamine by mouth. After a bite, you need to watch the baby for about half an hour. In case of complications, a doctor should be called.
Important: if there are several bites, if they are in the mouth, face, neck, then it is better to go to the hospital or call a doctor: swelling spreads very strongly in these places.
Tick
Tick digs into the skin and secretes a large amount of saliva into the wound, along with it pathogens of various infections can enter the human body, the most common: encephalitis and borreliosis (Lyme disease). By itself, the tick bite is not felt in any way
A black dot of various sizes is visible at the site of the bite – this is the tick itself.
There is no swelling or itching.
What to do : remove the tick. It is better to do this in an emergency room or hospital, because if there is no skill, then it is easy to tear off the body of the tick, and its head and proboscis will remain in the skin. But if the doctors are far away, then you can try to unscrew the insect with tweezers, like a screw (you can’t pull, just twist it). It is useless to drip oil on a tick and wait for it to fall off on its own. It is advisable to take the removed tick for analysis to find out if it is a carrier of the infection.
Repellents
- These substances protect against bites, but it must be understood that poisons that are dangerous for insects are also dangerous for humans. It is necessary to use repellent only if there are really a lot of insects or their bite causes a strong reaction in the child.
- It is necessary to apply only a baby product with a low concentration of the active substance (up to 10%).
The repellent must not contain diethyltoluamide ( DEET ). It is toxic, so in children under 6 years old it is not even used for clothing. - Do not aerosolize the face – only cream, ointment or gel. Do not treat areas with scratches, wounds, inflammation, lips and eyelids with repellent. It makes no sense to treat skin areas hidden by clothing.
- After the walk, change clothes, take a shower and wash off the remains of the substance from the child.
- If there is an allergy, then it is better not to use the repellent at all.
The repellent must not contain diethyltoluamide ( DEET ). It is toxic, so in children under 6 years old it is not even used for clothing.How to prevent a bite
Preventing an insect bite is easier than treating it later:
- Cover sweet fruits and desserts, otherwise they will attract a lot of insects. Before you give your child juice from a cup or a piece of watermelon, you need to see if a wasp or a bee is hiding there. And after eating, it is worth wiping the baby’s lips with a wet napkin.
- Bright and colorful dresses strongly attract insects. They also love floral scents. So in nature it is better to dress discreetly and not eat sweet food.
- It is better for a child not to walk barefoot on grass or sand – there may be a bee or a wasp sitting there.
- When walking in a forest or a meadow (a place that is very fond of ticks), you need to wear clothes with closed sleeves, trousers with cuffs at the bottom (or tuck them into shoes). Put on a cap or panama on your head. Every hour it is worth carefully examining the clothes and body of the child.
Insects like to bite especially children, because their skin is thin, and blood circulation is very active.
A child can get a wasp or bee sting by inadvertently stepping on an insect with a bare foot, or if the child eats some sweet fruit that the insect has suddenly landed on.
All bloodsuckers look for prey, primarily by body temperature. To “hot” people they fly up faster.