Nearly any insect or other arthropod can bite in self-defense, but some “bugs” go out of their way to get you. If you are asking yourself “what bit me?”, here are the common bloodsuckers and other biting insects.
Blood-feeders
These insects and arachnids need blood for survival. Most feed on animals rather than people.
- Mosquitoes: Flies with piercing-sucking mouth parts. Only the females bite so that they can extract the protein they need for the development of their eggs.
- Black flies: These flies are found near fast-flowing streams. Like mosquitoes only the females bite.
- Biting midges: These tiny flies are also known as “no-see-ums” or “punkies.”
- Horse flies and deer flies: Are large to very large flies. The females carve a chunk out of your skin, then lick up the blood. Many have colorful eyes.
- Bed bugs: Small, flat, wingless insects associated mainly with humans.
- Kissing bugs: Assassin bugs that feed on blood, mostly on rodents.
- Head lice and body lice: are found only on people. Roughly 2-3 mm in length. They only move by crawling and are spread most commonly by close person-to-person contact.
- Fleas: These tiny, flat from side-to-side insects, are most commonly associated with mammals or birds.
- Ticks: Are parasitic arachnids that feed on a variety of animals.
Nuisance Biters
These insects often bite with no provocation, but they do not feed on blood or tissue.
- Minute Pirate Bugs: Tiny, black-and-white insects common in agricultural areas.
- Green lacewing larvae: Prey on aphids, but sometimes fall out of trees and shrubs onto people. They can deliver a painful bite.
- Lady beetles, like the Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle, have the ability to deliver a painful bite.
Prevention
Here are some tips to reduce your risk of being bitten.
- Use insect repellent, such as such as Ben’s® Tick & Insect Repellent or Natrapel.
- Wear long pants and long sleeves outdoors.
- Use mosquito netting when spending the night outdoors.
- Control rodents and other wildlife that blood-feeding biting insects feed on.
- Drain water from objects that collect rainwater to reduce mosquito breeding.
- Always inspect hotel, motel, dorm rooms, and other lodging for bed bugs.
Treat the itch from bug bites with After Bite insect bite treatment.