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Ouch, what bit me? 10 common bug bites

While some bites and stings are harmless, others could send you to the emergency room.

mosquito
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Summer brings backyard barbecues, picnics in the park, and days spent laying on the beach or beside the pool. Unfortunately, the season is also peak time for buzzing and biting insects like mosquitos, spiders, and ticks. Irritating bug bites are often harmless, but some are painful and may cause an allergic reaction, infection, or worse.

It can be difficult to spot theShow More

bug bite, mosquito bite
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Mosquito Bites

Red and raised, mosquito bites are among the most common causes of insect-related itch. Aside from a little irritation, they're usually harmless and will clear on their own in just a few days.

Not everyone has the same reaction, though, and it’s possible for a bite to result in small blisters,Show More

bug bite, insect bite
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Bee Stings

Their distinct buzz has sent school kids scampering for centuries, and rightfully so—getting stung by a bee hurts. More often than not, bee stings are harmless, but if you’re stung more than once, or you’re allergic to the creature’s venom, a nuisance can turn into a medical emergency.

“Bees canShow More

wasp sting
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Wasp Stings

Signs of a wasp sting are not so different from those of a bee sting. You’ll likely experience a painful welt around the site, where the wasp released a small amount of venom. You may even notice a small white mark at the center, where the stinger punctured the skin.

It’s possible the stinger mayShow More

bug bite, insect sting, blister beetle
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Blister Beetle Reactions

Blister beetles don’t bite. Instead they release a protective chemical called cantharidin that can cause painful blisters and lesions when they're crushed on the skin.

Signs of a reaction usually appear between 24 and 48 hours after contact. Irritation from a blister beetle is mostly just annoying,Show More

flea bites
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Flea Bites

Tiny parasites that thrive on human and animal blood, fleas live primarily on cats and dogs, though humans aren’t immune to their bites. Fleas most commonly nibble people on the legs and ankles, causing small red bumps that itch.

Because fleas don’t generally carry disease, bites are typicallyShow More

tick bite
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Tick Bites

Ticks, found primarily in wooded areas, are small parasites that thrive off the blood of other creatures, including people. Ticks can be too small to see, and, in some places, transmit illnesses like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be contractedShow More

bug bite, insect bite, ant bite
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Fire Ant Stings

A cousin of the harmless black ant, the fire ant is an insect whose sting leaves you with pus-filled blisters. Although these bites look like pimples, and you may be tempted to pop them, you shouldn’t.

Fire ant stings most commonly occur on the feet and ankles, and are usually the result ofShow More

bug bites, chigger bites
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Chigger Bites

Chiggers are small bugs that are part of the arachnid family. They live in areas with tall grass and are among the most common sources of bug bites. Chiggers frequently attach themselves to skin near the ankles, around the waist, and in warm areas of the body, like the folds of the elbowsShow More

brown recluse bite, spider bite
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Brown Recluse Spider Bites

Most spider bites cause only minor local reactions, but brown recluse spiders, found in central and southern parts of the US like Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana, are different. They're venomous, and bites need prompt treatment. “Brown recluse bites usually have a black, necrotic center, whichShow More

black widow spider bite, spider bite
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Black Widow Spider Bite

The black widow spider, famous for the red hourglass shape on its abdomen, is one of few venomous spiders found in the U.S. Unlike your average house spider, and even the brown recluse spider, a bite from this deadly arachnid can cause intense pain and stiffness in the area, muscle pain, sweating,Show More

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