What Bit Me?!

Do you find yourself scratching more than usual? It’s that time of year where the bugs are out to bite! But do you know what pest bit you? Sure, they could be from a harmless mosquito, but what if those bites around your ankle are actually from fleas?

With so many different pests buzzing around this summer, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them all. From ticks to stinging insects there are a lot of stings and bites to watch out for. Some pests, like mosquitoes, fleas and bed bugs can even leave similar markings, so knowing which one bit you can help prevent any further bites and can trigger a call to a pest management company if needed.

Check these tips on identifying if that itchy, red welt is from bed bugs or another pest you didn’t even think of:

Tick Bites:

• Tick bites are usually easy to identify because you’ll find the tick still attached. The bite left behind after a tick detaches looks like a small hole in your skin, and it can sometimes be itchy. Deer ticks are very small, so they may go unnoticed. If you are bitten by a deer tick infected with Lyme disease, you may notice a red ring develop around the bite, often referred to as a bullseye. If you notice this pattern, contact your healthcare provider.
• To prevent tick bites, wear insect repellant containing DEET, long pants, long sleeves, a hat, and check your body immediately after being outdoors. While checking yourself for ticks, it is important to check in warm areas, like armpits and groin areas. Take a shower as soon as you get indoors. To prevent ticks in your yard, mow your lawn regularly as ticks particularly like tall grass and leaf debris.

Mosquito Bites:

• Like most of us have experienced, mosquito bites are usually red, itchy welts that can be found all over your body. Some people react more than others and can even have swelling. Swelling is particularly common when a child gets bitten close to the eyes.
• To prevent these itchy, annoying bites, you should use an insect repellant containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon-eucalyptus when outdoors. It is also helpful to wear long pants and sleeves.

Bed Bug Bites:

• It’s important to note that not all people react to bed bugs, but for those who do, bed bug bites leave red, itchy welts. They can look and feel like mosquito bites, but bed bug bites are usually found in a row where your body meets the mattress or pillow while you sleep. While you can’t diagnose a bed bug infestation on bites alone, they can be a contributing factor to knowing when to seek a second opinion.
• To prevent bed bugs, especially when on vacation, thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking. Check behind the headboard, next to the baseboard and behind the night stand. After your vacation, it is important to wash all clothes, even those items that were not worn, in hot water and dry on high heat to remove any bed bugs or eggs that may have traveled home with you.

Stinging Insect Bites:

• Stinging insects leave red, painful marks, so you’ll usually know once you are stung by this pest. Many people describe the initial reaction as a burning, followed by extreme pain. If you notice tightness in your chest, shortness of breath or swelling after a sting, seek medical assistance as quickly as you can because you could be displaying an allergic reaction.
• To prevent stings, keep food covered at cookouts, clean up spills quickly, keep flowering plants and trees away from entertaining areas, and avoid swatting away stinging insects as this can make the pest feel threatened. It is also important to stay away from nests and contact a pest control company when removing a nest.

Flea Bites:

• If you have red, itchy bites in groups of three or four on your legs and feet, these could be flea bites. Flea bites look and feel like bed bug or mosquito bites, but the key is where the bites are located. Flea bites will be low to the ground, where flea carriers such as rodents and pets are roaming.
• A flea’s favorite hangout is on a rodent, so minimize the risk of fleas finding their way into your home by reducing rodent habitats around your yard. You can do this by removing brush, rock piles and firewood around your yard and keeping food that attracts wildlife away inside your home. If you are a pet owner, apply flea control products to protect them, you and your home.

Now that you know what bit you at yesterday’s softball game, go out and have fun this summer. Just be sure you use insect repellant or take the proper precautions to avoid another bite!

About Shane McCoy:

Shane McCoy is the Quality and Technical Training Director for Wil-Kil Pest Control, a regional pest management company providing quality pest management for residential and commercial properties throughout the Upper Midwest. As an Associate Certified Entomologist with over 20 years of experience in pest management, Shane’s blog provides expert tips and tricks, timely information and solutions for coexisting with the insect life and critters around us. To learn more about Wil-Kil Pest Control, please visit www.wil-kil.com. You can also follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@WilKilPest).