You have to look at a few things to identify a bite correctly. Start with the clothes and area around the bite and then look at the bite per se. You might notice redness, swelling, hives or even discoloration. The bite may also get filled with pus or ulcerate. Each bite has different implications and you must seek medical help in such cases.

If you are an avid trekker or a camping enthusiast it is a good idea to get yourself acquainted with the different insect bites one could get while doing such activities. Identifying an insect bite is especially important if there is a chance of the insect being poisonous. Most medication is also based on the type of insect bite one sustains. There are serious consequences of a poisonous insect bite, hence prompt identification and treatment holds the key to better outcomes.

1. The first thing you must do when identifying an insect bite is to see the area of the bite. Some insects like ants and bees are latched on to the area where they bite or sting. Most bees drop dead after they sting so it would be easy to identify such a bite by looking at the area and the clothes around the bite.
2. You should also search for hives. Hives may develop immediately after the bite and they may make identifying an insect bite a difficult task. The hives may also be replaced by pus filled blisters in a day or two. These insect bites are very characteristic of fire ants and there might be more than one bite concentrated in an area.
3. You will also have to watch out for swelling and redness. This could be concentrated on the sting or might cover a large wide area surrounding the sting site. If the redness and irritation is widespread the sting is most likely to be caused by a wasp or bee. This is one of the most common symptoms of an insect bite. You should be more cautious if you have a known allergy to such bites. Hives can also signal a widespread allergic reaction, and if you know that you are allergic you should call a doctor immediately.
4. You might notice discoloration around the area of the bite. This can appear immediately after the bite and is a sure sign of a poisonous insect. You should not wait until the color deepens for identifying an insect bite. At the first indication of a bluish tinge you must immobilize the part with the bite and seek medical help immediately. In that case you should look for blue or purple areas surrounding the wound. It could be a bite from a brown recluse spider or a black widow spider.

These tips will help you in identifying an insect bite accurately. After you have identified the offending insect, you must not try to fiddle with the bite area. It would be wiser to clean the area with soap and water and tie a bandage. If you suspect that the bite is poisonous you might have to tie a tighter tourniquet in order to restrict the flow of toxins to surrounding areas.

Richard Dorads - InsectPest.net