As if the chigger bites I picked up over the weekend weren’t bad enough, some other form of bug life had a go at my arm yesterday evening as I was playing a round of frisbee golf. I thought I saw something fly towards me out of the corner of my eye, but it could have been a spider hanging from a web that was being blown my way. In either case, before I had time to react, I felt something like a pin-prick on the back of my arm. I know it wasn’t a wasp, because a wasp sting feels nothing like a pin-prick.
I don’t know if I was bitten or stung, but the entire back of my arm is red and itchy today, with a brighter red patch in the area where the little @#$%er got me. You can see how much the redness has spread better in the picture below, which shows my natural skin tone on the top of my arm.
I still love living in the country, but I could do without the aggressive bugs.
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Ouch! Once upon a time we lived in Thomasville, Ga. We were always told “Gotta watch out for those chiggers”. We lived in a very “woodsy” area. Thankfully, we never experienced what a chigger felt like!
Keep that streak going. Chigger bites aren’t fun, but whatever bit or stung the back of my arm was worse than chiggers.
Wowie. I mean, owie. Hope you got some industrial calamine or similar.
Yikes, that IS bad! Benadryl? Hope that’s the worst it gets. Living in the country is worth it though, I agree!
We certainly have more bugs here, but I’ve been bitten by chiggers and stung by wasps living in the suburbs. If you’ve got grass and trees, you’ve got bugs.
Gadzooks! It looks like your arm is about to fall off.
I feel your pain though. Ever since changing my diet, I feel like bugs are MORE attracted to me for some reason.
Do the bugs just like you or are they picking on the rest of the family too?
We’ve all ended with a few bites, but I seem to be their favorite target.
Oh. My. You are taking (or have taken?) benadryl, or some other anti-histamine, yes? I (yes, I am a confessed worry-wart, but still) would strongly recommend that you run those photos by your doc fairly soon and maybe ask for an epi-pen…that looks suspiciously like an allergic reaction to whatever got you, and allergic reactions can get worse with successive exposure…
You do too many people too much good (without even mentioning your sweet family!) to keel over in the middle of your next round!! 🙂
I may run these pictures by a doc and see if that prompts an order to come in. I don’t feel dizzy, nauseated, or much of anything besides itchy at this point, so I haven’t been too worried.
sure looks like a spider bite. we’ve had a rash of them this year (pun intended) in our north texas backwater. the good news is, only two spiders are really dangerous, and neither one likes frisbee golf.
I don’t think it was a brown recluse or black widow because I was out in the middle of a sunny field when I felt the bite or sting. Those two spiders tend to hide in dark corners, bushes, etc.
Wow, that thing didn’t miss you. Either you’re allergic or that thing had venom.
I’m guessing something with venom.
Dude…, Love your Blog – but,
It’s OK to slather up with Cutter’s or Deep Woods Off once in a while. i hope there is no Lyme disease in your area…
If I’m working around the trees or bushes, I spray up. When I play frisbee golf, I come home and immediately remove all clothes, take a shower, then have Chareva check me for ticks. I hadn’t anticipated a flying attacker.
Egad! A hit and run bite! You might want to consider keeping some benadryl on hand in case you have an allergic reaction to one of these critters.
Chareva picked some up yesterday.
Eeek, could that be a brown recluse, or black widow spider bite? Coulda happened anywhere, but I suppose the Green Acres life has a few more opportunities for the bug bites.
I believe the brown recluses tend to hide away in dark places. This was a sunny day outdoors and I was moving around playing frisbee, so I’m still thinking a flying insect of some sort.
I am no authority on bug bites, but that looks pretty horrid Tom. I think I would have a doctor check that arm out. In my neck of the woods, Spokane, Wa, we are dealing with a type of gnat/fly that attacks around the head and neck area leaving some of the susceptible (like me) with huge, itchy lumps. No fun. Unfortunately, as soon as one bug season disappears another type of bug raises its ugly mouth or stinger! Welcome to the country!
Susan M.
I wonder if those have made it down here. My impression (again, out of the corner of my eye, so I could be wrong) was that something flew into me.
um ii would go have that looked at. looks very icky
I would say – Get the to a doctor quickly. Spider bites are not a trivial thing.
Umm, that looks like a trip to the ER or urgent care to me. Seriously, those bugs carry venom and nasty bacteria.
I’ll have it looked at if it doesn’t get better quickly.
Ouch! Once upon a time we lived in Thomasville, Ga. We were always told “Gotta watch out for those chiggers”. We lived in a very “woodsy” area. Thankfully, we never experienced what a chigger felt like!
Keep that streak going. Chigger bites aren’t fun, but whatever bit or stung the back of my arm was worse than chiggers.
Wowie. I mean, owie. Hope you got some industrial calamine or similar.
Yikes, that IS bad! Benadryl? Hope that’s the worst it gets. Living in the country is worth it though, I agree!
We certainly have more bugs here, but I’ve been bitten by chiggers and stung by wasps living in the suburbs. If you’ve got grass and trees, you’ve got bugs.
Gadzooks! It looks like your arm is about to fall off.
I feel your pain though. Ever since changing my diet, I feel like bugs are MORE attracted to me for some reason.
Do the bugs just like you or are they picking on the rest of the family too?
We’ve all ended with a few bites, but I seem to be their favorite target.
Um, yeah. This is why I live in the city. I’m just sayin’.
That must have been one freaky huge bug!
I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It was small, whatever it was.
Oh, and sorry for the double post, but topical Benadryl works wonders on that kind of stuff.
Oh. My. You are taking (or have taken?) benadryl, or some other anti-histamine, yes? I (yes, I am a confessed worry-wart, but still) would strongly recommend that you run those photos by your doc fairly soon and maybe ask for an epi-pen…that looks suspiciously like an allergic reaction to whatever got you, and allergic reactions can get worse with successive exposure…
You do too many people too much good (without even mentioning your sweet family!) to keel over in the middle of your next round!! 🙂
I may run these pictures by a doc and see if that prompts an order to come in. I don’t feel dizzy, nauseated, or much of anything besides itchy at this point, so I haven’t been too worried.
sure looks like a spider bite. we’ve had a rash of them this year (pun intended) in our north texas backwater. the good news is, only two spiders are really dangerous, and neither one likes frisbee golf.
I don’t think it was a brown recluse or black widow because I was out in the middle of a sunny field when I felt the bite or sting. Those two spiders tend to hide in dark corners, bushes, etc.
Wow, that thing didn’t miss you. Either you’re allergic or that thing had venom.
I’m guessing something with venom.
Dude…, Love your Blog – but,
It’s OK to slather up with Cutter’s or Deep Woods Off once in a while. i hope there is no Lyme disease in your area…
If I’m working around the trees or bushes, I spray up. When I play frisbee golf, I come home and immediately remove all clothes, take a shower, then have Chareva check me for ticks. I hadn’t anticipated a flying attacker.
Egad! A hit and run bite! You might want to consider keeping some benadryl on hand in case you have an allergic reaction to one of these critters.
Chareva picked some up yesterday.
Eeek, could that be a brown recluse, or black widow spider bite? Coulda happened anywhere, but I suppose the Green Acres life has a few more opportunities for the bug bites.
I believe the brown recluses tend to hide away in dark places. This was a sunny day outdoors and I was moving around playing frisbee, so I’m still thinking a flying insect of some sort.
I am no authority on bug bites, but that looks pretty horrid Tom. I think I would have a doctor check that arm out. In my neck of the woods, Spokane, Wa, we are dealing with a type of gnat/fly that attacks around the head and neck area leaving some of the susceptible (like me) with huge, itchy lumps. No fun. Unfortunately, as soon as one bug season disappears another type of bug raises its ugly mouth or stinger! Welcome to the country!
Susan M.
I wonder if those have made it down here. My impression (again, out of the corner of my eye, so I could be wrong) was that something flew into me.
Hi Tom
Years ago while visiting friends in Poplar Bluff I turned into mosquito snack food, 90 bites in less than two minutes. I guess them redneck mosquitos must have found european blood appetizing!
What can be an effective repellent and soothing remedy is lavender essential oil (lavender angustifolia). The other lavender oil ‘lanvender aspic’ is also amazing at healing burns and bites. These don’t cost much and are worth a try.
Now, that rash looks like an allergic reaction, and an antihistamine cream or cortisone cream could be useful.
Best advice is that if it keeps getting bigger do see a medic.
E.
It seems to be about the same size today.
um ii would go have that looked at. looks very icky
I would saturate in vitamin C… just saying.
Can’t hurt to try, but it looks like the recommendation is to take it immediately after being stung.
I would say – Get the to a doctor quickly. Spider bites are not a trivial thing.
Umm, that looks like a trip to the ER or urgent care to me. Seriously, those bugs carry venom and nasty bacteria.
I’ll have it looked at if it doesn’t get better quickly.
Nasty! You’re not making US country life look all that appealing…mind you Aussie is worse – most of the critters there’ll just kill ya outright.
NZ’s wetas don’t seem so bad all of a sudden.
I read Bill Bryson’s wonderful book “In a Sunburned Country” about his travels in Australia. I was impressed to learn to how many creatures there can kill you with one bite or sting.
Um, yeah. This is why I live in the city. I’m just sayin’.
That must have been one freaky huge bug!
I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It was small, whatever it was.
Oh, and sorry for the double post, but topical Benadryl works wonders on that kind of stuff.
Hmmm. Is this really about bug bites or just a chance to flex those biceps? 🙂
Ha … except I wasn’t flexing. I make a fist to flex.
Hi Tom
Years ago while visiting friends in Poplar Bluff I turned into mosquito snack food, 90 bites in less than two minutes. I guess them redneck mosquitos must have found european blood appetizing!
What can be an effective repellent and soothing remedy is lavender essential oil (lavender angustifolia). The other lavender oil ‘lanvender aspic’ is also amazing at healing burns and bites. These don’t cost much and are worth a try.
Now, that rash looks like an allergic reaction, and an antihistamine cream or cortisone cream could be useful.
Best advice is that if it keeps getting bigger do see a medic.
E.
It seems to be about the same size today.
I would saturate in vitamin C… just saying.
Can’t hurt to try, but it looks like the recommendation is to take it immediately after being stung.
Hello Tom, Sorry to see your war with the insect world is ongoing :-). When we were in TN last year I was stung by an Eastern Velvet Ant (ant wasp). The affected area on my leg looked a lot like the are on your arm. It took about 8 weeks to go away.
That would make sense.
Not sure if this was mentioned before, but do you mow the fields? Mowing is the number-one technique (that I know of) for keeping pests at bay. Even pastures. I had a neighbor down the way (back when I was a country girl) that would mow his cow pasture a couple times a year with a tractor-mower. It kept the large weeds and grasses down, which prevents crazy pest problems and encourages new grass growth. He mowed very high – 5 inches, easy. His Angus cattle looked good for it, and the pasture was kept up. This may be relevant: http://agricultureproud.com/2011/07/27/why-am-i-mowing-pastures-part-2/
Maintaining the pasture with good forage management will probably improve the value of your farm and encourage the growth of your livestock. If you’re worried about bugs for your chickens, though, don’t. There will still be plenty of bugs – just in less “swarmy” quantities.
We have the pastures mowed every two weeks.
Those bugs are just adapting you to real living.
Nasty! You’re not making US country life look all that appealing…mind you Aussie is worse – most of the critters there’ll just kill ya outright.
NZ’s wetas don’t seem so bad all of a sudden.
I read Bill Bryson’s wonderful book “In a Sunburned Country” about his travels in Australia. I was impressed to learn to how many creatures there can kill you with one bite or sting.
Studies confirm and the FDA supports that fresh country air and frisbee golf can lead to blemishes and rashes.
In my n=1 experiment, that’s the case.
Heehee. I noticed the bicep first, too!
Trust me, my biceps are not impressive.
It looks infected. DH’s doctor gave him antibiotics, steroids and antihistamines and his didn’t look as bad.
I guess I may need to see a doctor. Rats.
I’ve probably sung this product’s praises before, but if you live or spend time in the country, Eden Salve is your friend. Carry it in your pocket when you’re out there and if you get bit or stung, slap some on immediately. I love the stuff.
Hmmm. Is this really about bug bites or just a chance to flex those biceps? 🙂
Ha … except I wasn’t flexing. I make a fist to flex.
I was wrong. That wasn’t a hit and run. That was a drive by shooting!