What insect caused that swollen red welt? Is that on your ankle actually bug bites? Insect bites can be hard to decipher — even for experts. But identifying common insect bites with pictures makes it a little easier. Figuring out exactly which insect bit you just based on the reaction on your skin can be a real challenge, Matt Frye, Ph.
D., a community extension educator with the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell University, tells TODAY.com.
"Human bodies react so differently that it's not (always) possible to look at the results of a bite and determine what caused it," he says. While some people might break out in itchy or painful welts after a get or ant bite, others will barely notice. And, for some, an insect bite or sting can mean a severe allergic reaction — and even a trip to the .
For doctors and dermatologists trying to decipher a bug bite, your skin reaction matters, of course, Dr. Amy Kassouf, dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic, tells TODAY.com.
"We look at patterns and where on the body they were bitten," she explains. For instance, clusters of small bites on the ankles could signal while larger welts on exposed arms and legs might be due to mosquitoes. Experts will also take into account what you were doing when you got the bite, other symptoms you have and whether or not you got a look at the insect that was responsible.
Thankfully, while bug bites can be annoying, most are not seriously harmful for humans, Kassouf says. Dependin.