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Have you ever seen a bug bite on your body and wondered what it was?
Or perhaps you're convinced it is a mosquito bite, but then you start noticing some strange symptoms that you cannot explain.
The better you become at identifying the bug that chose you as its host, the better you will be clear about which course of action to take.
One more reason why it's important to identify which bug has bitten you is that some of them might transmit life-threatening infections.
Here are the 12 most common bites:
1. Ticks
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What's scary about getting bitten by a tick is that you'll probably not feel them latch on.
These sly pests have a unique way of catching their host off guard and then suck their blood.
Their bites cause redness which stretches out a few centimeters around a red or black dot.
If you get bitten, ensure you remove the whole tick immediately, so that it won't send a life-threatening disease, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever or Lyme disease, through your veins.
2. Mosquitoes
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These common bites look like swollen red ridges on the skin. You will find bites shaped like either a circle or a blob.
Scratching it is a terrible idea, as the affected area will get more irritated and then become a darker shade of red.
3. Wasps
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Wasp bites are usually painful, but you will rarely catch them in action.
Wasps' stings are incredibly itchy and cause redness and swelling.
The bite area is slightly more extensive than that of a mosquito, and you will see where they have penetrated the skin.
4. Bees
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Honeybees are willing to lose their lives to sting a human.
After they penetrate your skin, they can't pull back their stinger. The problem is they also leave their abdomen and digestive system, which explains why they end up dying.
Because of that, their bites are easy to recognize.
You need to remove the stinger from your body immediately so that the poison won't enter your bloodstream.
5. Hornets
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Even if you can't tell the difference between a wasp and a hornet, you will know if you get bitten by one, as hornet stings are venomous.
The sting from a hornet makes the area turn red and swell. The sting will cause blisters sometimes.
If you experience other symptoms such as blue skin or numbness, see a doctor immediately.
6. Fleas
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You will usually find these bites on your legs rather than other areas of your body.
Flea bites are easy to spot because these pests will bite several times.
The bites are itchier than a typical mosquito bite, and they will look and feel like tiny, hard red balls on the skin.
7. Red Ant
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Most ants aren't poisonous. The worst thing they can do is irritate you. However, if you see a red ant, run away!
When they bite, these red ants release a toxin that might cause allergic reactions.
The affected area will look pink; it's similar to a flea bite, but an ant sting causes immediate pain.
8. Lice
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Lice will usually be found on the head, although it can also appear on other hairy parts of your body.
Apart from the unbearable itch they cause, their bites also leave small red dots.
9. Horse-fly
As horseflies have a nasty bite, you will notice in the case that you get bitten.
These insects leave a large mark which causes swelling and sometimes blisters. The painful bite might cause dizziness, and in rare cases, infections.
In case you ever get nipped by a horse-fly, you'll need to clean the area and then apply an ice pack to soothe it.
10. Bedbugs
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Everyone knows that bed bugs are a headache. If you ever get these bites in your house, then you will have a big task ahead of you.
Bed bug bites are in many cases mistaken as mosquito bites, but they will usually have a zigzagging pattern.
Other symptoms might include redness, swelling, and puss.
11. Deer Flies
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While most flies wreak havoc by only buzzing around, some of them can transmit diseases. Deer flies are among them.
If you ever get bitten by one, you will feel it. Their bites are extremely painful and cause red bumps.
Deer flies can also transmit a disease known as rabbit fever. If you ever experience skin ulcers, a headache or fever right after you get bitten, see your doctor immediately.
12. Brown Recluse Spider
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Spiders are not technically bugs, but it is essential to know some of the most common bites you can get from them.
The brown recluse spider can be found in many southern states, such as Missouri, Tennessee, and Louisiana.
These spiders usually hide in the dark, as they don't want to be bothered with; however, if they get trapped against your skin, they will bite.
It'll take you a few hours to feel the itch, but once you do, it will hurt a lot.
The bite will cause either redness or purple ring which looks like a bull's-eye.
It's also likely that you'll have to get treatment for this bite in case it starts to blister or give you a fever, headache, or chills.
So, which of these bites are you familiar with? Which one do you get most often?
References: Newsner, Shared
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