English archive > Stings and Bites > What is an insect bite?

We say that something - usually an insect - has "bitten" us when it injects a venom into our skin through its stinger.

Ticks, for example, also bite. They're related to spiders,and are usually found in dog fur or among dry vegetation. They latch on to the skin and may suck our blood, for several days, without stinging or causing any pain. Sometimes, they're difficult to find.