Insect Bites in Florida: Identifying Fire Ant, Mosquito, No-See-Um, Chigger and Spider Bites

Written by Cherlie Joseph, MSN, FNP-BC · Medically reviewed by Naurah Gaspard, DNP, FNP-C, FNP-BC · Updated November 2026

Most insect bites in Florida come from mosquitoes, fire ants, no-see-ums, chiggers and ticks, and they usually heal in a few days with cool compresses, hydrocortisone and an antihistamine. Fire ant bites form white pus bumps about a day later and should not be popped. Swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing or dizziness after a sting is an emergency, and fever after mosquito bites can be a sign of dengue.

Florida bites at a glance

Biter	What it looks like	Clues
Fire ants	Clusters of red bumps that become white pus-filled blisters in about a day	Burning sting; usually feet and ankles after stepping on a mound
Mosquitoes	Puffy, itchy bumps that appear within minutes	Exposed skin; dusk and dawn
No-see-ums (biting midges)	Many tiny, very itchy red dots	Near beaches and marshes; get through screens
Chiggers ("red bugs")	Intensely itchy red bumps	Where clothes are tight: waistband, sock line, groin, a day after tall grass
Bed bugs	Itchy bumps in a line or cluster	Appear overnight on arms, neck and face
Ticks	A small red bump, sometimes with the tick still attached	Woods and yards; check scalp, armpits, groin

How to treat most bites

• Wash the area with soap and water.
• Apply a cold pack for 10 minutes to ease swelling and itch.
• Use 1% hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion as the label directs.
• A non-drowsy antihistamine like cetirizine or loratadine can calm itching.
• Do not pop fire ant blisters. They are sterile, and breaking them raises the chance of infection and scarring.
• Keep nails short and try not to scratch; scratched bites are a common way cellulitis starts.

A larger swollen area around a bite, even several inches across, is often a normal local reaction that peaks in 1 to 2 days. Redness that keeps spreading after 2 days, gets more painful or comes with fever may be infection. See cellulitis signs.

Mosquitoes and dengue in Florida

Most mosquito bites are only itchy, but Florida mosquitoes can spread dengue and West Nile virus. 2026 has been an unusually active dengue year: the Florida Department of Health reported 252 locally acquired dengue cases as of late September, most in Hillsborough County, with others in Pinellas, Miami-Dade, Orange, Pasco, Palm Beach and Polk counties.

Dengue symptoms usually start 4 to 10 days after a bite:

• Sudden fever, severe headache and pain behind the eyes
• Muscle, joint and bone pain
• Nausea, vomiting and a rash

If you have these symptoms, see a provider for testing. Use acetaminophen for fever, and avoid ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin until dengue is ruled out, because they raise bleeding risk.

Ticks, spiders and stings

• Ticks: remove with fine-tipped tweezers, grasping close to the skin and pulling straight up. Watch for fever, a spreading rash or a bull's-eye pattern over the next month. Lone star tick bites have been linked to alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to red meat that causes delayed hives or stomach symptoms hours after eating it.
• Spiders: most spider bites are harmless. Black widow and brown widow spiders live in Florida; a black widow bite can cause severe muscle cramps and needs emergency care. Brown recluse spiders are rare in Florida, and many "spider bites" turn out to be skin infections.
• Bees, wasps and yellow jackets: scrape out a bee stinger quickly, wash and ice the area.
• Jellyfish and Portuguese man o' war: rinse with seawater (not fresh water), remove tentacles with gloves or a card, then soak in hot water as warm as you can tolerate for pain.

Preventing bites

• Use an EPA-registered repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus, applied after sunscreen.
• Wear long sleeves, long pants and socks in grassy or wooded areas; tuck pants into socks for chiggers and ticks.
• Empty standing water around your home weekly: plant saucers, buckets, gutters, pet bowls and bromeliads.
• Look before you step or sit on lawns and fields to avoid fire ant mounds.
• Shower after outdoor time and do a tick check.
• If you have had a severe reaction to a sting, ask about carrying epinephrine and seeing an allergist.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know what bit me?

Look at the pattern and place: fire ants leave clusters of pus bumps on the feet, chiggers bite along waistbands and sock lines, no-see-ums leave many tiny dots near the beach, and mosquito bites are puffy and appear within minutes.

How long do fire ant bites last?

The white pustules form within about a day and usually heal in 1 to 2 weeks. Do not pop them, and watch for spreading redness or pain.

When should I worry about a bug bite?

Get care for spreading redness after 2 days, fever, red streaks, or any sign of allergic reaction such as facial swelling or trouble breathing.

Sources

• The Watchers: Florida locally acquired dengue cases (Florida Department of Health Week 38 report)
• EPA: Find the insect repellent that is right for you
• MedlinePlus: Insect Bites and Stings

Keep reading

• Cellulitis signs
• Hives: causes and treatment
• Heat rash in Florida
• Browse all conditions and treatments A to Z

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. Treatment, including any prescription, is decided by a licensed provider after reviewing your health history. OurTopClinic is not for emergencies; if you have a medical emergency, call 911. OurTopClinic serves adults located in Florida, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. Learn more at ourtopclinic.com.