Question 1. Is the bite painful?
Yes. The bite is probably a Ant, Fly, or Spider bite. Some household spider bites are NOT painful.
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No. The bite is probably a Mosquito, Flea, Chigger or Bed Bug bite.

Question 2. Is there just one bite?
Yes. The bite is most likely a Spider or Tick bite. Spiders typically bite in self-defense. Ticks bite at one skin site per tick.
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No. The bite is probablly a Mosquito, Chigger, Ant, Bed Bug, or Mosquitio bite.

Question 3. Is the bite flat (NOT raised)?
Yes. The bite is probably a Bed Bug bite. If heavly itched, the bite may be a Fly or Mosquito bite.
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No. The bite, if raised and NOT heavily itched, is probably a Chigger, Ant, Flea or Spider bite.

Question 4. Is there a blister on the bite?
Yes. The bite is probably a Spider bite. Spider bites typically form a blister or pustual on top of the bite within 1-2 days.
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No. The bite, if raised, is probably a Chigger, Ant, Flea, Fly, or Mosquito bite.

Question 5. Is there a rash around the bite?
Yes. Rashes are common with itching. Red or swollen skin is usually a result of itching. Spiders and insects can
cause rashes when itched. Local rashes may be caused by Flea, Mosquito, Chigger, or Fly bites. General body rash
may be associated with an allergic reaction. If in doubt See a physician immediately.
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No. The bite is probably a Spider, Ant, or Tick bite.

Quesiton 6. Does the bite look infected?
Yes. If the bite appears infected: is red, painful to the touch, oozing, has dead tissue surrounding the bite or has
red streaks radiating away from the bite See a physician immediately. More Information
No. The bite is probably not infected. Monitor the bite. If it heals (symptoms improve) it is probably not infected.

Question 7. Do you feel sick? (nautions, headache, weak, fever, ache, stiff neck, short of breath, body ache)
Yes. See a physician immediately. More Information
No. It is probably not a major illness associated with Mosquito, Tick, poisionous Spider bite or an allergic reaction.
If in doubt See a physician immediately.

Flea bites
Flea bites typically begin as a rash with small bumps that itch and may bleed. Bites are typically located on the armpit, in a crease of skin or joint (arm or leg) of the body where fleas hide. A larger skin area may be affected over time as bite areas enlarge. Touching bites will turn bite areas white. Itching may be localized or can become generalized and may result in severe itching. Swelling around bite or rash areas my result and take several day to subside. Symptoms can begin suddenly. More Information

Fire Ant bites
Fire ant bites have symptoms similar to other insect bites. However, a fire ants bite is painful. Redness typically surrounds the bite forming lighter colored rings around a darker center. Pain is present as symptoms progress. Runners of redness will shoot out from the bite area at times. Fever, nausea, aches, tiredness, and other flu-like symptoms may occur. More Information

Mosquito bites
Mosquito bites typically occur at dusk or at night as mosquitos swarm. Spring and summer seasons are worst. Mosquito bites typically occur hours or days later. Redness and itching on and around bites is common. Swelling may occur as itching aggrivates bite sites. Mosquitos are carriers of Malaria, Yellow fever, Dengue fever, West Nile fever and other illnesses. More Information

Black Fly bites
Black fly bites (biting flies) can produce a number of symptoms including pain on and around the bite site, itching and cellulitis as reaction to bites progress. The most common allergic responses are hives or wheezing. Black flies and other biting flies can deliver painful bites. Prolonged scratching may result in secondary infections. Hypersensitivity to biting flies are rarely observed in the human population. More Information

Chigger bites
Chigger bites produce small raised red lesions on the skin. Bites can cause pain and itching. Symptoms may be similar to contact dermatitis or poison ivy or oak. Hypersensitive persons may experience swelling or blistering. Itching may cause bite areas to spread and appear as a rash. More Information

Tick bites
Tick bites are noticed after redness, pain, discomfort or swelling occure in the area of the bite. Blisters, rash and itching may also occur. Early removal of the tick body and head followed by through cleaning is beneficial. While most ticks do not carry diseases, some ticks can cause Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, tularemia. Watch for symptoms of these diseases in the weeks following a tick bite. Symptoms include muscle or joint aches, stiff neck, headache, weakness, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and other flu-like symptoms. Watch for a red spot or rash starting at the location of the bite. More Information

Bed Bug bites
Bed bug bites create large wheels of bites made in orderly rows. Itching and skin redness on and around bite sites are common. Localized swelling and the formation of blisters may occur. Occasionally, small losses of skin tissue occur. Bite wheels gradually are reduced to red marks which gradually fade over a few days. More Information