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Unknown and Mysterious Bug Bites
- What's biting me? -
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Summary: A number of insects and mites bite leaving a red, swollen, itchy bite mark. However, there are also other, non-living, causes of skin irritation that mimic the appearance of bug bites. In many cases, in the absence of an identified insect or mite, what appears to be a bug bite may in fact be caused by something else.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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Bug "bites" but no bug
 I am frequently asked to diagnosis the cause of "bug bites" that seem to appear for no obvious reason. There is no insect or mite to identify and the person has either only a vague description of what may have bitten them or, ironically, a wildly exaggerated one.
Most people who contact me believe there are many insects and mites that bite us. In reality there are very few that actually bite people and fewer still for which we serve as the primary host. Take a look at the list of insects and mites below that commonly bite people. If you are not able to clearly identify one of these as the cause of the bites you might consider some of the other, non-living, reasons for very similar skin eruptions.
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Mysterious "bug bites" on wrist and arm; many different agents can cause the skin to erupt into red, swollen patches that may appear to be bug bites.
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Possible culprits in true bug bites
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Maybe the "bites" are caused by something else**
One common cause of skin aliments are toxic chemicals encountered in the environment. People differ in their reactions to various common solvents and even cleaning products. And, your reaction can change over time with repeated exposure. So, for example, you may suddenly react to a particular soap or cleaning solution having never reacted to it before. People often react to insecticides as well. This is particularly insidious because insecticides applied because of an assumed "insect infestation" may in fact be making the skin reaction worse! This is one reason we say that insecticides should never be used indoors.
There are also many underlying medical conditions that can mimic the skin eruptions of insect and mite bites. Some of these conditions can be serious but they may also be as simple as an allergic reaction (which can start suddenly) or a reaction to a new prescription drug. Even recreational drugs can cause skin and psychological reactions that can be mis-identified as having an insect or mite origin.
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The bottom line - don't assume that a "bug" is causing the problem unless you can clearly identify the culprit. In the absense of a captured bug your first step should be to consult with a medical professional such as a dermatologist to rule out these other causes.
** This information should not be considered medical advice; always check with your own medical advisor for specifics regarding your health.
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Mission: To provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information for solving common insect and mite problems around your home, business and landscape using least-toxic methods.
Jack DeAngelis, Ph.D.
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