18 Bug Bites and How to Identify Them

Don’t confuse these tiny beasts with their cuter cousins, ladybugs. Asian lady beetles, which were introduced to the U.S. in the 20th century to help fight aphid infestations, are notoriously mean and can bite people when agitated. They also reportedly like the salt from our skin. Thankfully, these tiny bites are rarely felt; if they are, it will feel like the faintest pinprick. Some people may experience localized redness at the bite mark that typically fades soon after.

We’re itchy just thinking about it! Bedbugs are considered tiny “Draculas” because they feed on human blood, then scurry off to digest it. Two-thirds of people who get bitten by bedbugs will experience red, raised welts, usually in rows, that are incredibly itchy and uncomfortable. Some bites will even develop a tiny blistered center, similar to a pimple.

Unless threatened, bees are highly unlikely to sting someone and, since they’re so vital to our ecosystem, they shouldn’t needlessly be harmed for simply being nearby. That being said, sometimes people get stung. The sting will hurt, and it typically leaves a raised, flesh-colored bump with a single sting mark in the center. Some people may also develop a red rash around the sting that feels warm to the touch. For those who are allergic, stings could cause anaphylactic shock, which requires emergency treatment.

Although highly feared, black widow spiders rarely bite people. These nocturnal arachnids prefer to stay hidden, but female black widows will bite if they feel threatened or you disturb their nest. A typical bite has two puncture wounds close together, where the spider’s venom was injected. Within 20 minutes, symptoms like pain, swelling, cramps, and weakness might develop. More severe cases might include respiratory problems and fainting, and should be evaluated by a medical professional.

If you’ve never heard of the blister beetle, consider yourself lucky. These field-loving insects come in a variety of colors and are found throughout the world. While they don’t have teeth or stingers, they do secrete a chemical called cantharidin on their bodies that, if touched, can cause painful, liquid-filled blisters to form on the skin (hence their creepy name). These blisters look similar to burns and will heal on their own, but should be kept clean and never punctured.

The brown recluse really doesn’t want to bite you, but if threatened, it will. While most people can handle this venomous bite, young children, the elderly, and those with a weakened immune system might need immediate medical attention. The bite, often painless, can feel similar to a bee sting. It will look like a small, raised red bump with a tiny white blister in the center and tiny fang marks. Sometimes, the bite will cause tissue death (necrosis) and begin to grow, requiring treatment by a doctor.

These fast moving, multilegged crawlers also pack a venomous punch. While smaller species, which can be found around the world, don’t have enough venom to cause more pain than a bee sting, larger varieties can cause quite a bit of pain. A centipede bite has two fang marks and generally swells around the bite area. Some bites might cause widespread swelling and a burning pain sensation. Thankfully, centipede bites aren’t deadly and will usually heal on their own within a few days.

Although we typically think of fire ants biting their victims, in actuality, they’re stinging them. For those who aren’t allergic to this potent and painful sting, they’ll typically experience an immediate burning sensation followed by tiny, raised red bumps that often form whiteheads in the center. These bumps, thanks to the venom solenopsin, can itch terribly and last for a few days to a week. More severe cases can cause anaphylaxis, which requires immediate medical attention.

Fleas are the bane of pet owners worldwide. These tiny, jumping blood suckers don’t discriminate, and although they prefer to burrow in the fur of our beloved animals, they’re not opposed to sinking their microscopic suckers into human flesh, too. Flea bites appear as numerous small, raised red bumps, most often found around people’s feet and ankles. They’re also notoriously itchy and can take several days to a week to heal.

Similar to mosquitoes, horseflies feed on mammal blood and are known buzzkills (pun intended) to summer outdoor fun. Also, like mosquitoes, only the female horsefly bites, leaving a small cut (thanks to the criss-cross scissor motion of their mouth parts) on the skin that often swells into a small, raised lump (called a weal). The bites can also be itchy and take longer to heal than other insect bites, making them particularly annoying.

Also called conenose bugs, kissing bugs are nicknamed as such because of their preference for biting people around the mouth and eyes while they sleep. These southern U.S. blood-drinking bugs are known to spread a parasitic disease called Chagas, making their “kisses” particularly worrisome. Most people won’t feel a kissing bug bite, but they can leave dozens of tiny bite marks clustered in one area that may become red and inflamed.

Found in wet areas, leeches are slithering blood-suckers that can feed on up to five times their weight in human blood. Thanks to their ability to numb the bite, people often don’t feel a leech until after it’s already fallen off their body. Wounds are typically small and may ooze blood for a long while (due to the leech injecting an anticoagulant during feeding). The wound typically heals after a week, first scabbing over and later leaving a red welt that eventually fades.

Known for transmitting Lyme disease, ticks are one of the most pervasive predators in the insect world. Like leeches, tick bites are often not noticeable until after the tick has engorged itself with blood and fallen off the body. Bite marks don’t usually appear until a few days after being bitten and are typically red, raised bumps that can feel warm and painful to the touch. Rashes near the bite are also common and can be a sign of Lyme disease.

Lice can appear on our heads and nether regions and, yes, they’re awful. Fully formed adult lice are the size of a sesame seed and, therefore, often hard to detect. What most people do notice is the tell-tale itchy, tickled scalp, white eggs along the hairshaft, and tiny red or pink bumps, often found at the base of the neck and behind the ears from their bites. Specialty combs and shampoos can help kill a lice infestation, but must be done in conjunction with washing all linen and surfaces where lice can hide.

Chiggers, also called “berry bugs,” are tiny bugs famous for hiding out in grassy areas and latching on to their mammalian hosts (usually around the ankles, genitals, or armpits) where they inject a microscopic feeding tube through the skin and feast on blood, often for a few days at a time. Once full, they fall off but leave a cluster of red, itchy welts with yellowish, raised blisters in the center. Scratching the welts can lead to infection, but thankfully, there is no other known risk of disease from chigger bites.

Insect enemy No. 1 is — without a doubt — the mosquito. These summertime predators are also vectors for at least 11 different diseases, including Zika virus, malaria, dengue, and West Nile virus, making their bites annoying and potentially fatal. The mosquito bite is easy to ID, having a small white bump with a tiny red dot in the center. Often, due to scratching, a red rash will form around the bite and the lump will harden. Dermatologists recommend using ice packs and calamine to relieve the itch instead of scratching.

Found throughout the Southwest, scorpions are related to spiders and, while terrifying to look at, aren’t a major threat, unless someone is bitten by the deadly Arizona bark scorpion, the most venomous scorpion in the U.S. Like spiders, scorpions don’t want to sting, but will if threatened. A scorpion sting hurts, especially to the touch, and will leave a warm, red welt. Sometimes, the area will swell. More severe reactions include difficulty breathing and muscle twitching, and should be treated by a medical professional.

While bees only sting once, a wasp can sting multiple times, making it far more painful. Wasps, which include hornets and yellow jackets, will attack when their nest is threatened and often will signal other wasps to join, making their attack even more frightening. Their sting will hurt, usually causing a mild burning sensation that leaves a raised, red welt that may become itchy. More severe cases could cause anaphylaxis and need to be treated immediately by a medical professional.