what bit me last week while at WDW????

[SeaSpray]

I was at WDW last week and got a few bites... they're on my legs, about 6 all together, and they're STILL driving me crazy! I can go for a half of a day and not scratch them and all of a sudden they'll start up again.

There were a LOT of lovebugs out last week; do they bite? If not, are there any other bugs down in WDW that do bite? They've left small red circles with a small blister in the center of each one. I don't think these are mosquito bites, and I don't remember seeing any mosquitos.

Thanks for any info...

 

[G8RFAN]

Love bugs do not bite. From what you describe, it sounds like fire ant bites.

 

[dbarker]

It sounds like Fire Ants to me. I found that Listerine helps a lot w/ the fire ant bites. Try it, it can't hurt.

 

[SeaSpray]

Do fire ants fly? I mean, how would they get high up on my legs?? I never felt anything crawl on me. LOL Thanks though, because I really have no idea what bit me. lol

 

[4eyedbuzzard]

Are you sure they're bites? They could be fire ant bites but I would think you would have remembered that experience. If they're not bites they could be an infection like impetigo(staff) or a herpes/pox. Even bug bites can get infected though, and there are all sorts of biting bugs in FL(but the love bugs don't bite). As it's been a week you might consider seeing your doctor.

 

[SeaSpray]

They are definitely bites (well, at least I am fairly sure) because I got them while outside at WDW... there are only about 6 of them all together, and they are not all in the same place. Two of them are on my lower left leg, one is very high on my outer left thigh, two are them are on the back of my right leg, and I think there is 1 more someplace. lol They don't all itch at once. And I was wearing shorts all last week, so its possible that some kind of flying bug bit my lower legs and were able to fly up under my shorts. I have NONE on my torso or arms though, which is kind of strange. If they were mosquito bites, you'd think I would've gotten some on my arms, too.


Edited to add: They are definitely fading, so I don't think I need to see a doctor. I'm more just curious than anything else. If the bites were not healing I'd definitely call the doctor.

 

[Osjah&Landon'sMom]

No they do not fly... but they do crawl so lightly you don't know they are there until they bite. They leave a mark as you described. My kids are allergic to them so when they get bitten the entire extremity swells up... I'm no doctor and take this for what it is worth, but what works best for my kids is for me to pop that white center, soak it in the tub and then something like neosporin... you may want to call your doc to make sure they don't get infected.

 

[la79al]

When we went to Jamaica, I got several mystery bites. I don't remember being bit at all by anything but I got bites that itched really bad off and on for a few weeks. They went away eventually but I found nothing that really helped.

 

[LadyZolt]

If they look like mosquito bites, but aren't -- it sounds like poison oak to me. I had it all the time as a kid. Aveeno soothes in the bath. Calamine lotion for when you're not in the bath. Good luck! Hope it clears up soon!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[SeaSpray]

No they do not fly... but they do crawl so lightly you don't know they are there until they bite. They leave a mark as you described. My kids are allergic to them so when they get bitten the entire extremity swells up... I'm no doctor and take this for what it is worth, but what works best for my kids is for me to pop that white center, soak it in the tub and then something like neosporin... you may want to call your doc to make sure they don't get infected.

Thanks for this info. Are fire ants in the parks? I mean, are they "in season" in Orlando right now? These definitely could be fire ant bites, maybe I didn't feel them crawl on me. I remember one night actually yelling out loud because I was startled at what felt like a pin being stuck into my upper arm. Strangely enough, I have no bites at all on my arm, but maybe I swatted whatever it was away, before it bit me.

 

[MickeyisanNDfan]

I just came back from Disney and I have bites that itch that aren't mosquito bites but are different than the ones I got last June which itched uncontrollably and left HUGE hot welts. Every time I go to Disney I come back with some new insect bite

 

[SeaSpray]

I just came back from Disney and I have bites that itch that aren't mosquito bites but are different than the ones I got last June which itched uncontrollably and left HUGE hot welts. Every time I go to Disney I come back with some new insect bite

Sounds like me, I always have some sort of health/medical issue relating to my WDW trips! Hey, at least we laugh about it, right??



Also, regarding these bites, they are red circles the size of about a dime, then a small blister in the center. Tonight they are not bothering me too much, and the red circles are going away too, but I've meaning to post here and ask if anyone had any idea of what it could be.

Thanks for all the replies

 

[LadyGracey]

Fire ants are in season EVERYWHERE down here. Even at Disney!

That's what it sounds like to me too--and they crawl so lightly you'd never notice them until they'd already bitten you. Did you sit on any grass while you were there, or near any discarded food? (there are some flying ants, but they're bigger and you would have probably noticed them)

When I got ant bites my mom and grandma always used to make a paste with baking soda and water--just wet enough so that it will stick to your skin. That will take some of the inflammation out of them. It really works, and it's cheap too!

 

[lakoda]

Sounds like no-see-ums to me. Ant bites have never caused itching for me

 

[daannzzz]

I don't know anything about fire ants (I'm in California) but I found a (sort of gross) picture. Maybe between all of you can determine if this is it.

http://www.orlandoskindoc.com/Fire-ant-bites.jpg

 

[indigoxtreme]

Also there are Chiggers in the south. Did you sit on the grass anywhere? They cause red spots and itch like crazy off and on especially if you get hot.
Here is a link to the picture. ALso take some benedryl if they are either one it will help to keep the itching down and baking soda bath also helps.

Try http://www.surviveoutdoors.com/emergency/chigger_bites.aspsome clear fingernail polish on the bites, it smothers them.

 

[masonjar]

Let me start by saying I have very sensitive skin when it comes to bites and poison ivy/oak.

Two years ago when standing in line at the bus stop at AK, I look down and a "yellow" fly was on my foot. It had bitten me in two places. One place on my toe ended up looking like a black M & M and another on top of my foot wasn't as big but did blister up and they both itched like crazy. My doctor ended up calling a prescription to Walgreen's for a steriod dose pack.

Last year before our trip, he went ahead and wrote out a prescription for me to take with me just in case...and while in Epcot, guess what...I was bitten again on the back of my calf. Same thing...red, itchy blister type that itches like crazy. That was last june and I still can see where the thing bit me.

I was also bitten by the same type "fly" when in Gulf Shores, AL. It would puff up and itch years later. (They have never landed on anyone else in my family!)

Never had six bites at a time but it might be the same thing.

 

[G8RFAN]

I have seen fire ants at WDW. In fact, the last time we stayed at SSR, waiting at the bus stop at Congress Park, we saw them swarming some dropped food near the bus benches. Once they find some food, they will send out scouts to search the perimeter for more. The other thing about them is that they somehow know when to bite at the same time even though they can be far from each other. Their bites/stings can be very painful but there have been times I have been bit and not known until it started itching.

The poster that was bit in Jamaica, they were most likely "no see ums" or sand flies. They are found near mangroves along beaches. They primarily attack at dawn or dusk and disappear during the "winter" months. The are barely larger than the holes in screens and appear like tiny greyish flies. Their bit is worse than mosquito bites for me. If you look at some DVC posts at Vero Beach, they talk about it

 

[DVC Jen]

Two years ago I was also bitten by something one night while watching Spectro. Strange thing was - it was raining very lightly off and on during that time.

Those bites itched so badly that I literally scratched myself raw in my sleep.

They lasted about 2 weeks. I always thought it was probably noseeums - but never knew for sure.

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

Did you know when you were bitten? Or did you just discover it when the bites started itching? Fire ant bites do itch, but those things hurt like the dickens when they bite! It burns more like a sting, hence the name "fire" ants, I guess. Their bites will blister up & have a white center. They will also hurt like a bee sting, in addition to some itching. Trust me. I've had quite a few fire ant bites in my life time! There's nothing like stepping into a bed & being instantly covered!