How to Identify and Treat 8 Common Insect Bites While Traveling
Door: Vellah Bogle
Saturday, December 28, 2024
When you travel, outdoor adventures like hiking in forests, exploring mountains, or going on safari are often part of the experience. Warm weather and light clothing, however, create perfect conditions for insects to strike. How can you recognize insect bites and treat them effectively? Check our guide to identifying and treating 8 common insect bites and stings to keep your travels safe and itch-free.
1. Red Ants
The bite of a red forest ant can cause a red swelling but is otherwise not dangerous. Photo: iStock
Red (forest) ants can both sting and bite, with the symptoms being quite similar. After a sting from a red ant, the skin turns red, and a light red area forms around the sting. Occasionally, the spot where the sting occurred turns white. While the sting can be painful, it is generally harmless unless an allergic reaction occurs, which could cause flu-like symptoms. The best course of action is to rest and avoid disturbing the area.
2. Bedbugs
A bedbug: does just looking at it make you itch? Photo: iStock
This common pest is a nightmare for travelers. Once bedbugs infest your bed, you must wash everything, including your clothes, on a hot cycle and leave the hotel. Bedbug bites itch intensely and are slow to disappear. Thankfully, they are not dangerous, though scratching may lead to infections. The bites form large red circles and cover a significant area of skin, with swelling at the bite site.
3. Mosquitoes
A tiger mosquito can transmit dengue fever. Photo: iStock
Few people can say they’ve never been bitten by a mosquito. These insects are nearly everywhere and cause much frustration. Their bites itch and create red bumps on the skin. The more you scratch, the worse it gets, so try to resist. Anti-itch creams can help, but prevention is better: apply DEET (30–40%) to exposed areas like the face, neck, hands, and ankles, and sleep under a mosquito net, preferably treated with insecticide. Mosquitoes can transmit severe illnesses like malaria, dengue, and yellow fever.
4. Black Flies
The bite of a female black fly is painful and can transmit diseases. Photo: iStock
The females of the black fly species—also known as biting midges—feed on the blood of humans and animals. Their bites are painful and leave a burning sensation that can last for days. The bites often itch intensely. Sometimes, black flies can transmit diseases such as river blindness. Watch for any symptoms of illness, but unfortunately, there is little else you can do.
5. Chiggers
Chiggers are barely visible to the naked eye. Photo: iStock
Chiggers, also known as harvest mites or red bugs, are found in forests, grasslands, and near lakes worldwide. Their bites are painless but cause intense itching. Scratching can result in red rashes. They are not dangerous and do not transmit diseases. Applying a cold compress can provide relief.
6. Fleas
Fleas love latching onto the skin to feed on blood. Photo: iStock
Flea bites are recognizable by red rashes on the skin, particularly in elbow and knee creases. The rashes itch intensely and may even cause minor bleeding. The skin swells, and excessive scratching can turn the area white. The best remedy is to apply soothing cream and try to avoid scratching.
7. Tsetse Flies
The tsetse fly is one of the most dangerous insects in Central Africa. Photo: iStock
The tsetse fly, found primarily in Central Africa, is notoriously one of the most disease-causing insects in the region. It infects both humans and livestock, transmitting diseases such as sleeping sickness. If left untreated, the parasite released by the tsetse fly can spread to the brain, resulting in death. The bite itself is painful, and if infected, a sore may develop at the bite site within days to a month.
8. Ticks
Ticks may not be as dramatic as some other insects, but their bites are far from harmless. Certain ticks carry Lyme disease, which can be transmitted to humans. You can recognize a tick bite by the attached tick in the skin or by a red ring or spot on the skin. If the tick isn’t engorged with blood, it might appear as a dark dot resembling a freckle or mole. The above video demonstrates the best way to remove a tick. Do not discard the tick—place it in a sealed bag and send it to a specialized lab for testing. Record the date of removal and consult a doctor immediately if flu-like symptoms appear. Even without a red ring or spot, infection is possible. Lyme disease is a multisystem illness but is often curable if caught early.
Aside from the tsetse fly, the insects mentioned above are relatively mild. Want to learn about insects with a more painful sting? Check out these 10 insects with the most painful stings.
The bite of a red forest ant can cause a red swelling but is otherwise not dangerous. Photo: iStock
A bedbug: does just looking at it make you itch? Photo: iStock
A tiger mosquito can transmit dengue fever. Photo: iStock
The bite of a female black fly is painful and can transmit diseases. Photo: iStock
Chiggers are barely visible to the naked eye. Photo: iStock
Fleas love latching onto the skin to feed on blood. Photo: iStock
The tsetse fly is one of the most dangerous insects in Central Africa. Photo: iStock
