Insect Bites: How to Tell What Bit or Stung You

Knowing what stung you or bit you can help you distinguish between a temporary annoyance and a potential medical emergency. If you are allergic to certain insect bites or stings, for example, you may develop a severe and life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.

There are many different types of insects and their bites or stings can cause different reactions, some mild, some life-threatening. Once you know what stung or bit you, you can determine the right course of treatment and whether you need to worry about getting bitten or stung again.

This article discusses how to identify 12 of the most common insect bites and stings and what to do about them. You’ll also learn the warning signs of a severe reaction to a bite or sting.

Identifying Insect Bites and Stings

If you’re not having a severe reaction to an insect bite or sting, figuring out what bit or stung you can help you determine the best first aid steps to follow.

Honeybees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and fire ants are common stinging insects. If you happened to see the bug, it might be easy to figure out what it was.

If you didn’t see the insect, take a look at your surroundings. You might see a hive nearby or be able to tell if the insect was in the air or on the ground. Other bugs are more common in certain environments; for example, mosquitos breed near standing water and chiggers live in grassy areas.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are flying insects that feed on animal blood. They can carry serious diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, and Chikungunya virus. Only the females bite. 

The proteins in mosquito saliva cause an itchy, red bump in most people. If you spend a lot of time outdoors in an area with a large number of mosquitoes, you may have multiple bites.

People with a mosquito bite allergy may have a more widespread reaction that includes a rash, large areas of swelling, and bruising, but this type of reaction is uncommon.

If you are bitten by a mosquito, take the following steps:

• Wash the bite with soap and water.
• If there is swelling, apply an ice pack.
• Avoid scratching.
• Take an oral antihistamine (a medication used for allergies).
• Apply topical anti-itch cream such as calamine lotion.

Honeybees

Honeybees usually are not aggressive. However, some species are more likely to sting than others. Bees typically will only sting if their hive is threatened or when they’re stepped on.

Bee stings can lead to pain, swelling, and hives. Honeybee stingers are barbed on the end. After the stinger enters the skin and injects venom, it stays behind.

Removing the stinger is the first thing you need to do after you get stung. You can use a dull edge to scrape the stinger, or grasp it and pull it out.

Whatever method you choose, the most important thing is to get the stinger out fast. The longer it stays in the skin, the more venom it releases into the body.

Here are key points to remember if you’re stung by a bee:

• Act quickly to remove the stinger so less venom enters your skin.
• Use your fingernail or a credit card edge to scrape out the stinger.
• Wash the area with mild soap and water.
• Apply ice to the skin.

Wasps

Another common stinging insect is a wasp. Wasps come in different colors, such as black, white, and/or yellow. Their bodies are smooth, not fuzzy, and their legs dangle when they fly.

Wasps tend to nest in trees or in the ground. They’re rarely aggressive but will sting if they’re disturbed. Since they don’t leave their stinger behind, a wasp can sting multiple times.

If you get stung by a wasp it might feel warm or hot to the touch, itch, and look slightly swollen.

To treat the sting:

• Wash it thoroughly.
• Apply ice.
• Take a pain reliever if needed.
• If you were stung on an arm or leg, keep the area elevated.

Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets, a kind of wasp, cause the most sting-related allergic reactions in the United States. Along with honeybees, yellow jackets are also responsible for most of the insect stings children get.

As their name suggests, yellow jackets are black and yellow. They nest in the ground and are scavengers. You might see them around garbage cans and they can be unwelcome guests at picnics.

Yellow jackets can sting multiple times in a row. If you’re stung by a yellow jacket you may have redness, swelling, hives, pain, and a burning feeling.

To treat a yellow jacket sting:

• Wash the area with soap and water.
• Apply ice.
• Take a pain reliever if needed.
• If you were stung on an arm or leg, keep the area elevated.

Hornets

Hornets, another kind of wasp, can vary in color and may have a white or yellow face. They tend to nest in trees and on the ground. Hornets can be aggressive and can sting multiple times in a row if they feel threatened.

Stings from a hornet can cause swelling, pain, and itchiness. The area that was stung may also feel warm and look red.

To treat a hornet sting:

• Wash the area with soap and water.
• Apply ice.
• Take a pain reliever if needed.
• If you were stung on an arm or leg, keep the area elevated.

Fire Ants

Insect stings aren’t always from bugs that fly around. You can also be stung or bitten by insects that are on the ground.

Fire ants can be found throughout the southern parts of the United States. They are red in and nest in the ground. The nests tend to have a mound of dirt on top that can be as tall as 18 inches.

Fire ants are most likely to bite and sting if a person steps on their nest. They can sting multiple times and will attack if their colony is threatened.

Stings from fire ants inject venom into the body that can cause pain, a burning feeling, and itchiness.

Welts may form soon after being stung by fire ants which can turn into pustules. It’s important not to scratch them open because they can get infected.

To treat fire ant stings:

• Wash the area with soap and cold water.
• Apply a topical steroid cream to help with itching and inflammation.
• If needed, take an antihistamine.
  

Fleas

Fleas are tiny, jumping insects that are usually brought into homes by pets. They feed on the blood of animals, including humans. If you have a flea infestation in your home, you will likely need help from a professional pest control company. Fleas can be identified based on their size and the way they move.

Fleas can spread diseases such as flea-borne typhus or cat scratch fever.

Flea bites are much smaller than mosquito bites. They look like small, red bumps and can have a red outline. Most flea bites appear in a group of three or four bites. They may be clustered together or in a straight line.

Flea bites are more likely to appear on warm, moist parts of the body such as the armpits, under the waistband, or the bend of your elbows, knees, or armpits. You may also get flea bites on your ankles or calves.

If you notice flea bites, take the following steps:

• Wash the bites with soap and water.
• Apply an icepack if there is swelling.
• Use topical creams such as calamine lotion to reduce itching.
• Avoid scratching.
  

Mites and Chiggers

Mites are tiny insects that can infest human beings. Mites burrow into human skin and can cause itching and rash.

Scabies

Scabies is a skin condition caused by the human itch mite. It is spread by prolonged skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. People with scabies experience symptoms such as:

• Severe itching
• Skin rash that may look similar to acne
• Tiny, raised grayish lines on the skin

Scabies can only be treated with a prescription topical scabies medication. The medication kills the mites. You will also need to take steps to control the infestation, such as:

• Washing clothing and linens in hot water
• Vacuuming furniture and carpets

Chiggers

Chiggers are a type of mite that is usually found outdoors. You may get bit by chiggers if you spend time in grassy areas such as meadows, parks, and near water. They feed on the blood of animals, including humans. Chiggers do not carry diseases, but their bites can be extremely itchy.

Chigger bites look like flat or raised red spots on the skin. They are larger than flea bites. More severe reactions may look similar to blisters. 

Chiggers are more likely to bite thin areas of skin and in warm skin folds. They may also bite the ankles and calves.

If you are bitten by a chigger, take the following steps:

• Scrub with soap and water to clean the bite and remove the chiggers.
• Apply calamine lotion or another anti-itch cream.
• Take an oral antihistamine. 
• Avoid scratching the bites.

Lice

The most common type of lice that infest humans is head lice. It is also possible to get body lice or pubic lice.

Head lice and pubic lice are not known to carry disease, but body lice can carry pathogens like epidemic typhus and trench fever. Body lice don't live on human bodies but in clothing and bed linens. In the United States, they are more common in areas of poverty where people live in overcrowded conditions and don't have access to clean clothing.

The most common symptom of lice is itching in the infested area. The best way to treat lice is to get rid of the infestation.

• Wash clothing and bedsheets in hot water.
• Pick through hair with a lice comb to remove adults and nits (eggs).
• Chemical lice treatments and shampoos can help, but some lice have developed a tolerance to these products so this is not always a reliable way to get rid of an infestation.
• Take an antihistamine to relieve itching.

Ticks

Ticks are parasitic insects that live outdoors. You may contact ticks when working or recreating in outdoor environments, especially wooded areas or places with heavy brush.

Ticks are important disease vectors. They carry bacterial illnesses such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. They can also spread viruses and protozoan parasites such as Colorado tick fever and babesiosis. 

Ticks feed on human blood. After biting, they remain attached to the skin and can be difficult to remove. Do not pull or twist a tick or apply heat when attempting to remove it. Doing so may remove the tick but leave the head beneath the skin. Instead, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the surface of the skin as possible. Apply even pressure and pull upward.

After removing the tick:

• Wash your hands and the bite with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
• Apply ice if there is swelling.
• Take an antihistamine to relieve itching and swelling.
• Calamine lotion can also help with swelling.
• Keep an eye on the bite; if it develops a distinct bullseye pattern see your healthcare provider, as this could be a sign of Lyme disease.
  

The best way to avoid tick-borne illnesses is to avoid being bitten. If possible, stay out of heavily wooded or brushy areas. If you must spend time in these places, wear long sleeves and long pants and wear insect repellent. Always check your clothing and body for ticks after leaving areas where they are commonly found. 

Spiders

Not all spiders have a harmful bite. In the United States, only two species are considered a danger to human beings: the black widow and the brown recluse. Other spiders, however, can still produce a painful bite.

How a spider bite looks depends on the type of spider that bit you, but you’ll often see two little holes in your skin from their fangs. The bite can also look red and might turn into a blister.

Black Widows

Black widow bites cause symptoms like:

• Immediate pain or a burning sensation
• Swelling and redness
• Muscle cramps
• Abdominal pain
• Weakness and tremors
• Nervousness and restlessness
• Sweating
• Headache and dizziness

Brown Recluses

A brown recluse bite can cause symptoms like:

• Mild to intense burning, pain, and itching that may develop hours or days after you've been bitten
• A bite that may turn blue or purple with a large, red outer "bullseye" ring
• An open sore caused by the breakdown of tissue that may turn black

If you are bitten by a spider, wash the bite with soap and water. Most of the time, you will see the spider that bit you. If you suspect a black widow or brown recluse bite, seek emergency care right away. If it's possible to capture the spider that bit you, put it in a glass jar and take it with you to the hospital. 

Depending on the severity of the bite and the identification of the spider, the hospital may treat you with:

• Pain relievers
• Muscle relaxers
• Antivenin
  

Once you return home:

• Apply ice.
• Use an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
• If the bite occurred on an arm or leg, keep the area elevated.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans. Bed bugs typically infest mattresses, but in a severe infestation they can be found in other parts of the home, including furniture, carpeting, and other upholstered surfaces.

Bed bugs are not known to carry diseases, but they are very difficult to eradicate. The best way to avoid bed bug bites is to prevent an infestation.

Bed bugs are often brought home from hotels. If you travel often, check your hotel mattress for signs of infestation such as blood spots and live bugs. Do not put your luggage or other belongings on the bed or upholstered surfaces.

Bed bug bites are usually small. On white skin, they look red but may look almost purple on darker skin. Bed bug bites often appear in a line or cluster on one part of the body. This is because bed bugs will often pierce the skin in multiple places to find an easy spot to draw blood from.

Bed bug bites can be itchy. Some people may experience a severe reaction to a bed bug bite, though this is uncommon. Signs of a more severe reaction include:

• Swelling and redness
• Severe itching
• Blistering

If you have bed bug bites, you can generally treat them yourself:

• Wash the bites with soap and water.
• Apply a topical anti-itch cream.
• If there is itching, take an antihistamine.
  

Signs of an Emergency

Insect bites and stings can be life-threatening in people who are allergic. However, you may not learn that you’re allergic to an insect until you are stung more than one time.

If you get an insect bite or sting and develop signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, it’s an emergency and you need immediate medical attention.

Call 911 or go to the ER if you get an insect bite or sting and start having:

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Skin symptoms (e.g., redness and hives) beyond the site of the sting
• Swelling in your mouth, throat, or tongue
• Lightheadedness or dizziness 

Summary

Insect bites and stings are a common occurrence in kids and adults. For most people, it’s a minor pain that will get better with a little home treatment. However, for people who are allergic, a sting or bite from an insect can be a life-threatening medical emergency.

There are a few ways to figure out which insect stung or bit you, even if you didn’t happen to see it. Check for a stinger in your skin, look for a hive nearby, and try to recall whether an insect was flying near the ground or higher up. If you see the insect that stung or bit you, look for identifying features such as its body shape and coloring.

In general, mild reactions to insect bites and stings can be treated by removing the stinger, washing the area with soap and water, and applying ice.

If you know you’re allergic to insects or are having symptoms of a severe reaction like trouble breathing, call 911 or go to the nearest ER, and use an EpiPen if you have one.