Identify Bug Bites by Picture

Small, round, puffy bump that appears shortly after the bite. Often becomes red, hard, and itchy. May appear in clusters.

Apply anti-itch cream, use cold compress, avoid scratching. Take antihistamines for swelling.

Two tiny puncture marks surrounded by redness and swelling. Brown recluse bites develop a blue-purple area around the bite within 24 hours.

Clean with soap and water, apply ice. Seek immediate medical care for black widow or brown recluse bites. Capture spider if possible for identification.

Small red bump at the bite site, often with the tick still attached. A bulls-eye rash (expanding red ring) may develop days later, signaling Lyme disease.

Remove tick with fine-tipped tweezers pulling straight up. Save the tick. Clean area with rubbing alcohol. Monitor for rash or flu-like symptoms for 30 days.

Small, flat, or raised red welts often in a line or zigzag pattern of three (breakfast, lunch, dinner). Extremely itchy. Usually found on exposed skin.

Wash bites with soap and water. Apply corticosteroid cream. Inspect and treat bedding and mattress. Consider professional pest control.

Tiny red bumps in clusters, often around ankles and lower legs. Surrounded by a red halo. Intensely itchy and may develop into blisters.

Wash with antiseptic soap. Apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream. Treat pets and home for fleas to prevent reinfestation.

Immediate sharp pain with red welts that develop into white, fluid-filled pustules within 24 hours. Multiple stings are common as fire ants attack in groups.

Apply cold compress. Do not pop pustules. Use hydrocortisone cream. Watch for severe allergic reactions including difficulty breathing.

Immediate sharp, burning pain with a raised welt and central white spot. Surrounding area becomes red and swollen. Wasps can sting multiple times.

Remove stinger by scraping (not squeezing). Apply ice for 10 minutes. Take ibuprofen for pain. Use EpiPen and call 911 immediately if allergic reaction occurs.

Bright red, extremely itchy bumps often in clusters around waistband, sock line, or skin folds. Bites may have a small blister in the center.

Shower immediately with hot soapy water. Apply anti-itch cream or calamine lotion. Avoid scratching to prevent infection. Itching can last 1-2 weeks.

Large, painful bite that may bleed. Area becomes swollen with a raised, red, itchy bump. The skin may bruise around the bite site.

Clean wound thoroughly. Apply pressure if bleeding. Use ice to reduce swelling. Take antihistamines for itching. Watch for signs of infection.

Usually painless bites near the mouth or eyes. Small, itchy welts that may appear in clusters. Can cause significant swelling around the eyes (Romana sign).

Do not crush the bug. Clean the bite area. See a doctor as kissing bugs can transmit Chagas disease, a potentially life-threatening parasitic infection.