Mystery Bug Bites!

conscious · #1 06/09/11, 09:07 PM

The other night I stepped outside for about 10 seconds with flip flops on. Go back in, take a shower, then I'm sitting in the living room about half an hour later and my feet and ankles start itching really badly like chiggers or something and I find a few pretty large welts. Put some tea tree oil on them and less than an hour later, they quit itching.

These aren't mosquito bites or any kind of flea bites as the welts are way too large and itch extremely badly. I assume if they were sand fleas, chiggers or bed bugs the bites would last a long time as I've had chigger and bed bug bites before.

Last night the same thing happened only this time I was out without shoes during the day only. And this time it happened twice, within a couple hours while I was sitting on the couch.

I remember this happening a couple years ago after I stepped out without any shoes on at night.

It never happens during the day so the critters must only come out at night. Or since I wasn't outside at night yesterday, maybe they are getting on me any time I'm out without shoes but don't bite till night.

Anyone got any ideas on what these critters might be?

Thanks.

Bearfootfarm · #2 06/09/11, 09:33 PM

I'd be betting on mosquitos.

Some types are more irritating than others.

The tiny black ones are hard to see but cause large welts

therunbunch · #3 06/09/11, 09:51 PM

Someone just posted about tiny ticks.. check out "seed ticks". Don't know what kind of bugs you have in your area but OUCH! I hope you can pinpoint it and keep it from happening again.

conscious · #4 06/09/11, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therunbunch

Someone just posted about tiny ticks.. check out "seed ticks". Don't know what kind of bugs you have in your area but OUCH! I hope you can pinpoint it and keep it from happening again.

Well I basically live in the woods so I see new bugs everyday that I've never seen before.

Doesn't sound like tiny ticks because these bites only itch for about an hour. Thanks any way.

motdaugrnds · #5 06/10/11, 12:09 AM

If ticks (no matter what size), you would see a tiny blister-like spot where it is itching. If mosquitoes you can get different sized whelps. If I were a betting person, Il'd bet on its being mosquitoes.

Paumon · #6 06/10/11, 12:59 AM

Do you have noseeums in your state? Noseeums bite at night and they're so tiny they're almost impossible to see. They make a tiny slash in the skin to get at your blood. The itch from their saliva is almost unbearable but generally stops itching after an hour or two, unless you're allergic in which case the itch can last for days.

Common Tator · #7 06/10/11, 01:05 AM

Fleas live in grass, and if you walk through infested grass most of the bites will be below the knee.

AuntKitty · #8 06/10/11, 08:59 AM

If you were in Florida, I'd say yellow flies. The bites are exactly like that. So maybe some kind of fly in your area that only hatches at certain times? Sure is annoying though, isn't it.

Kitty

conscious · #9 06/10/11, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paumon

Do you have noseeums in your state? Noseeums bite at night and they're so tiny they're almost impossible to see. They make a tiny slash in the skin to get at your blood. The itch from their saliva is almost unbearable but generally stops itching after an hour or two, unless you're allergic in which case the itch can last for days.

Sounds like you hit the nail on the head. Thanks.

watcher · #10 06/10/11, 12:37 PM

Its been my experience noseeums bites sting/hurt/massively itch the instant the bite happens not 30 minutes later.

Paumon · #11 06/10/11, 03:05 PM

I think people's individual reactions to the noseeum saliva may differ from person to person. Myself and my mom used to feel the itch immediately, my dad didn't fee it til later and it was gradual, like the itch would creep up on him. We had a neighbour fellow who never felt the bites at all but was so allergic to them his face would puff up like a balloon til you couldn't see his eyes and his skin would turn purple and blue like bruises. Put him into hospital a few times, he looked like he'd been beaten up.

If I know I'm going into noseeum country I put petroleum jelly on my skin then they leave me alone.

meanwhile · #12 06/10/11, 07:05 PM

A brown recluse spider bit me last week. At first it looked like a big fat mosquito bite too. Then, the puss and puncture marks showed up. It is still a mess but getting better. Watch it closely if you think it might be a spider bite.

OH Boy · #13 06/10/11, 09:11 PM

What you are describing sounds like Chiggers to me

conscious · #14 06/10/11, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OH Boy

What you are describing sounds like Chiggers to me

Nah, we got plenty of chiggers out here. Chigger bites last for days, sometimes weeks. These only last an hour or so. And chiggers bite any time of the day...these only bite at night.

So I was out in my screened sunporch tonight and right after it got dark, I got bit about half a dozen times...and the sunporch doors had not been opened for hours. Must be no seeums. I'll have to get some noseeum screens.

Tricky Grama · #15 06/11/11, 06:44 AM

I'm w/ya on this. Finally found a spray that's 'natural' b/c sulphur powder didn't work. That works on chiggers so I'm assuming its not chiggers.

Someone said it could be MITES! Ack! Anyway, using a spray called HOMS 'bite' blocker, Xtreme sportsman. "organic". Not sure where I got it...last yr.

Works well but if you miss a TINY spot-they'll find it.