IdentifyUS

In Massachusetts, the tick associated with the syndrome has started to expand to new areas of the state, officials say.

Knowing what bit you changes what you do next. 🌿

Mosquito: single raised welt, intense itching, appears within minutes.

Ant: for common ants — small red bump with local irritation. Fire ant (southern US): distinctive white fluid-filled pustule at the sting site, burning sensation, multiple stings in a cluster pattern. Fire ant stings are among the most recognizable bites in the region.

Tick: a concentric expanding red ring — if that bullseye pattern appears in the hours or days after a bite from time spent outdoors, see a doctor even if it does not hurt. This is the primary symptom of Lyme disease, which is endemic across the Northeast, upper Midwest, and Pacific Northwest. Early treatment is highly effective.

Bed bug: a group of welts in a line or cluster, usually on skin that was covered by clothing or bedding during sleep.

Scorpion: visible entry point, immediate intense local pain, possible numbness spreading outward. Most US scorpion stings cause pain but are not dangerous to healthy adults. The Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) is the exception — it is the only US scorpion considered medically significant and can cause more serious symptoms, particularly in children, the elderly, and people with health conditions. Seek medical attention promptly in the Southwest if symptoms go beyond local pain.

Honey bee: welt with white central point, stinger may remain embedded — remove it by scraping with a card, never by squeezing.

Flea: multiple small red bites scattered across the area, especially on ankles and lower legs.

Spider: depressed central point with surrounding redness — watch whether it enlarges over the following hours. Brown recluse and black widow bites are uncommon but can cause serious reactions and warrant medical evaluation.

Wasp / yellow jacket: raised welt without a stinger, typically more immediately painful than a bee sting.

If you experience difficulty breathing, facial swelling, or dizziness after any sting or bite, go to the emergency room immediately.

This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a medical professional if you are uncertain about a bite or if symptoms concern you.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/first-death-reported-meat-allergy-caused-tick-bite-rcna243743

First death reported from meat allergy caused by tick bite After months of investigation, researchers confirmed that a New Jersey man died of a tickborne allergy called alpha-gal syndrome after eating a hamburger.

✅ Iceland No Longer Mosquito-Free — Antarctica Is Now the Last Holdout! 🦟❄️

For the first time in recorded history, mosquitoes have been confirmed in Iceland — a country long believed too cold and unstable for them to survive.

Entomologist Matthías Alfreðsson from the Natural Science Institute of Iceland identified three Culiseta annulata mosquitoes found near Kiðafell, north of Reykjavík, in October 2025. This cold-tolerant species is common in northern Europe, and its arrival marks a small but symbolic ecological shift.

🌡️ What’s behind it?
Experts point to rising temperatures, increased travel, and even geothermal microclimates that create pockets of warmth where mosquitoes can briefly breed.

While scientists stress that these isolated finds don’t yet mean a permanent population, it’s a clear sign that climate change is pushing species into new frontiers — even in places once thought immune.

🌍 With Iceland joining the list, Antarctica is now the only continent on Earth still free of mosquitoes.

____

https://open.substack.com/pub/outbreaknewstoday/p/south-carolina-beaufort-county-resident

South Carolina: Beaufort County resident is the first EEE death in the state since 2003 The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) recently reported on the first confirmed death caused by infection with eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus in more than 20 years.

Report sitings of the invasive Spotted Lantern Fly in Massachusetts here:

Experience