[nancy32163]

On Tuesday 6-2, I was at the first tee on Turtle mound. Something bit me although I did not see what it was. I was on the green and I believe whatever bit me was inside my sock. It was a small bite like a mosquito bite. The next morning I went for a walk, exercised at the pool, and attended Happy Stitchers. After I came home from Happy Stitcher's I looked at the bite and my ankle was red hot, swollen & itchy. I put on some cortisone ointment for the itching and Neosporin antibiotic. It didn't seem to be working so I went online and found the healing tendencies in apple cider vinegar. It said to use half vinegar and half water & wrap your affected area in it, which I did for 4 hours. Went to bed and got up with a big area of fluid in the bite. I sterilized a needle and drained it. It's still draining and now I can walk on it although it is still red and itchy. I see the doctor this afternoon. Has anyone been bitten as I believe this was a poisonous bite? I've attached a photo of the bite this morning. Just want to make people aware.

[graciegirl]

Was bitten on the hand weeding. Lasts for more than a week and really burns and hurts. Here is a picture I found. Google images fire ant bite.

[kittygilchrist]

The most likely thing is a fire ant, but that is a large blister. Perhaps your histamine reaction was over the top? If it were me, I'd put the benadryl-type antihistamine cream on it, and an anti-itch cream.
I am not a medical professional, but I've been in Florida a long time.
If the center of the blister becomes necrotic it could be a brown recluse spider bite.

I wait to pop the blister until some of the inflammation subsides.

[TommyT]

FIRE ANTS.... Yes it appears to be. When we lived in Georgia we were attacked most every time one worked in the yard.

To make it go away, (sounds gross but works) scratch the wound open and put rubbing alcohol (not whiskey) and the boil will stop hurting and dry up. Old wives home brew from the Georgia mountains, but it worked.

[graciegirl]

It is usually not ONE. The little buggers crawl on you as a group and their nasty commander yells BITE and they do it in unison. They hang on too.


You see those little sandhills? That is their real estate. Don't wear golf sandals. AND get anthill gotcha stuff to get rid of them on your property.

[TheVillageChicken]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

It is usually not ONE. The little buggers crawl on you as a group and their nasty commander yells BITE and they do it in unison. They hang on too.


You see those little sandhills? That is their real estate. Don't wear golf sandals. AND get anthill gotcha stuff to get rid of them on your property.

Fire ants are a mainstay of my chili recipe.

[Chi-Town]

The fact that it was a single bite from a hiding spot (your sock?) seems to point to a spider. It will be interesting to see your doctor's diagnosis.

[jnieman]

Originally Posted by nancy32163

On Tuesday 6-2, I was at the first tee on Turtle mound. Something bit me although I did not see what it was. I was on the green and I believe whatever bit me was inside my sock. It was a small bite like a mosquito bite. The next morning I went for a walk, exercised at the pool, and attended Happy Stitchers. After I came home from Happy Stitcher's I looked at the bite and my ankle was red hot, swollen & itchy. I put on some cortisone ointment for the itching and Neosporin antibiotic. It didn't seem to be working so I went online and found the healing tendencies in apple cider vinegar. It said to use half vinegar and half water & wrap your affected area in it, which I did for 4 hours. Went to bed and got up with a big area of fluid in the bite. I sterilized a needle and drained it. It's still draining and now I can walk on it although it is still red and itchy. I see the doctor this afternoon. Has anyone been bitten as I believe this was a poisonous bite? I've attached a photo of the bite this morning. Just want to make people aware.

Had the same thing happen to me on turtle mound about 2 months ago. I did catch the little bugger but didn't know what it was. It looked like a cross between a spider and a bug. I looked all over the internet and couldn't find one like it. Mine itched really bad, got a blister, the whole area swelled up. It looked so bad I went to the doctor and he gave me antibiotics.

[buggyone]

I would also go with the fire ant theory here. Kitty seems to be absolutely right in her remedy. It is going to continue itching for about a week. Do not scratch it open. Big chance of infection if you do that.

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by Chi-Town

The fact that it was a single bite from a hiding spot (your sock?) seems to point to a spider. It will be interesting to see your doctor's diagnosis.

One bite is enough for me jump away from the hill, do St. Vitus' Dance, strip whatever's necessary, brush madly, inspect myself, and act like a total idiot, while I'm actually trying to survive. Once in a while two will get me, but not often.

They're a little more of a nuisance than a mosquito, unless you're trying to sleep and hear a scout mosquito buzzing, "Hey guys she's in here!" Then the mosquito wins number one pest award.

[KayakerNC]

OK, I'm convinced.
Never wear socks in Florida, critters hate 'em.

[nancy32163]

Originally Posted by Chi-Town

The fact that it was a single bite from a hiding spot (your sock?) seems to point to a spider. It will be interesting to see your doctor's diagnosis.

I think it may have been a spider bite. Dr said it was not a brown recluse bite & gave me a strong antibiotic and I am able to walk today and its improved greatly. What I couldn't get over was the fact that the bite area did not manifest for 24 hours & then I was immobilized in a few hours. Anyway I am on the mend. I know what fire ants look like and I did not see any but by golly the photo that graciegirl attached looked like the bite I had.

[nancy32163]

Originally Posted by jnieman

Had the same thing happen to me on turtle mound about 2 months ago. I did catch the little bugger but didn't know what it was. It looked like a cross between a spider and a bug. I looked all over the internet and couldn't find one like it. Mine itched really bad, got a blister, the whole area swelled up. It looked so bad I went to the doctor and he gave me antibiotics.

I wish you had a photo of it. I was on the green when I got bit. All the symptoms that you had I had but believe me I am going to be looking down from now on. ha ha

PS. Would like to find a book on Florida spiders and their bites because this one was certainly a poisonous one. I was at Pinellas Library today but they did not have a book on the subject.

[Villages PL]

It gives a whole new meaning to the saying, "Let's go out for a bite."

[kittygilchrist]

Just fyi...brown recluse is not that common here, but crawling into clothing is a characteristic as you see below.

by now, finding out what it was fades and we hope you are better by now???

good for you having the antibiotic, just in case...
that was not characteristic of the fire ant to inflame the whole ankle and take that long to show up. Must have been scary. I hope you are ok now?
I think some of us who have had fire ant bites underestimated the severity of what you experienced.
I know I did.




from uf/ifas/edis
The brown recluse spider is a shy species that bites humans when trapped in clothing or rolled onto when people sleep in bed. Persons bitten by the brown recluse usually do not feel pain for two to three hours, although a sensitive person may feel pain immediately. A blister arises around the area of the bite. The local pain becomes intense, with the wound sloughing tissue often down to the bone. Healing takes place slowly and may take six to eight weeks. If the bite of a brown recluse spider is suspected, collect the spider and consult a physician immediately.