Identifying Common Bug Bites

Experts are already predicting that this will be a particularly buggy summer due to a mild winter and excessive rain.

I can certainly attest to that.  Large, itchy welts, have been appearing on my kids since April, far earlier than typical.  What’s concerning for parents is knowing what sort of bite you’re dealing with and how to treat it.  For your child safety, here is a cheat sheet to identify which bug may have caused a particular mark:

Mosquito bites are usually the easiest to identify.  They cause an itchy small red mound and you can usually see the bite in the center of it.  Mosquitoes are usually found near bodies of water and are attracted to sweat.

If you’ve ever been to a beach on the East Coast you’re probably familiar with green flies.  They hurt beyond belief when they bite!  They leave little, painful bumps that usually disappear in a day.

Contrary to their name, sand fleas are not just found in the sand.  It’s very easy for them to “tag along” on a host body and end up infesting your home.  Sand fleas will group together and their bits are small, red, painful marks usually on your ankles.  If they’ve infested your home it’s important to thoroughly clean your carpets, bed linens and even upholstery to remove any eggs that have been laid.

The most common uninvited guests at picnics are ants.  Usually they’re just annoying but if they’re fire ants they can be extremely painful.  Fire ant bites cause immediate pain and a burning sensation followed by swelling (up to ½ inch) and cloudy fluid in area of the bite.

Probably one of the most concerning bites these days is a tick bite.  Lyme disease can now be found in virtually every state in the US and can have long lasting and serious consequences.  Many people assume that a tick bite can be identified by the tell-tale “bull’s eye” mark but in many cases you can have been bitten by a tick and never get it.  Ticks live in high grass, shady areas and under leaves and low shrubbery.  Don’t assume just because you’ve sprayed for ticks you’re safe.  Always do a careful tick check on yourself and your kids when you come inside.  If you start developing flu-like symptoms it’s worthwhile to check with your doctor to be sure you haven’t contracted Lyme Disease.

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