Bug Bite Thing

What Bug Bite Thing does

Bug Bite Thing is a Port Saint Lucie, Florida-based consumer products company founded in 2015 by Kelley Higney and her mother Ellen McAlister. Its core product is a reusable, chemical-free suction tool that mechanically extracts insect saliva or venom from beneath the skin to relieve itching, stinging, and swelling from bug bites and stings. The company has expanded its portfolio in 2023 to include a patented double-sided tick remover tool and a mail-in tick pathogen testing service powered by TickReport that screens for 12+ tick-borne diseases including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

The company generates revenue primarily through one-time hardware sales priced between $9.99 and $46.99 for the suction tool, $12.49–$19.99 for the tick remover, and $99.99–$115.99 for tick testing bundles, sold via its Shopify DTC storefront, Amazon marketplace, and over 30,000 physical retail locations across the United States and 34 countries internationally. A wholesale/B2B dealer program supports retail expansion. GTM is anchored by viral social media (particularly TikTok with hundreds of millions of views), earned media from its October 2019 ABC Shark Tank appearance and subsequent Lori Greiner partnership, influencer marketing, and seasonal campaigns targeting tick and mosquito season. A 90-day money-back guarantee underwrites the self-serve purchase model.

Operationally, Bug Bite Thing is a small private company (11–50 employees) that acquired competitor TickEase in June 2023 and has added product, geographic (Australia, October 2023), and service-layer expansion moves. The company has been recognized with multiple Stevie Awards, BIG Innovation Award, National Parenting Product Award, and is WBENC-certified as a women's business enterprise. No revenue is publicly disclosed.

Name

Bug Bite Thing

Legal name

Bug Bite Thing

Website

https://bugbitething.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bug Bite Thing is a Florida-based consumer products company that sells a chemical-free suction tool to relieve insect bites and stings, along with a patented tick remover and mail-in tick pathogen testing service, distributed via Amazon, DTC e-commerce, and 30,000+ retail locations across 34 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Health & Personal Care Products

NAICS

Exterminating and Pest Control Services (561710)

SIC

Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842)

akta.pro primary industry

Insect Baits & Gel Baits (Ant, Roach, etc.) (CRAJAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Flea, Tick & Mite Home/Indoor Control (CRAJAHAH)

Keywords

• Insect bite relief
• Tick removal tools
• Chemical-free remedies
• Suction devices
• Consumer health products

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Saint Lucie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Hardware Product Sales: One-time purchase revenue from physical products including the Suction Tool ($9.99–$46.99), Tick Remover ($12.49–$19.99), and Combo Packs ($15.99). Products are sold individually or in multi-packs at escalating unit discounts. Revenue is transactional and non-recurring per unit.
2. Tick Testing Service: Recurring per-test revenue from the Tick Testing Kit ($99.99 standalone; $115.99 bundled with suction tool and tick remover). Customers mail in a tick specimen for lab-based DNA/RNA pathogen analysis, with results delivered electronically in 1-3 business days.
3. Wholesale / B2B Distribution: Bulk distribution to over 30,000 retail locations across the United States and 34 countries internationally, generating wholesale revenue through channel partners and distributors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Bug Bite Thing designs, manufactures, and sells chemical-free physical products for insect bite and sting relief. The core offering is a reusable mechanical suction tool that extracts insect saliva or venom from beneath the skin to alleviate itching, stinging, and swelling. The portfolio also includes a patented stainless steel double-sided tick removal tool and a mail-in tick testing service powered by TickReport for pathogen analysis.

Product overview

Bug Bite Thing is a product portfolio centered on chemical-free insect bite relief and tick management. The core offering is the Suction Tool, a reusable device that uses suction to extract insect saliva or venom from bug bites and stings. The portfolio expands with the Tick Remover (a stainless steel dual-tipped tool for safe tick extraction compliant with CDC guidelines) and the Tick Testing Kit (a mail-in laboratory service powered by TickReport that analyzes ticks for over 12 disease-causing pathogens). The Combo Packs bundle the Suction Tool with themed travel bags for convenient portability. All products are designed for use on both people and pets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bug Bite Thing Suction Tool
• Bug Bite Thing Tick Remover
• Bug Bite Thing Tick Testing Kit
• Bug Bite Thing Combo Pack

Quantifiable outcome

• Amazon's #1 selling product for insect bite relief with over 90,000 reviews and over 75,000 reviews on the company's own platform.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TickReportcoreTechnology or IntegrationBug Bite Thing's Tick Testing Kit is powered by TickReport, a specialized tick testing laboratory. TickReport provides advanced DNA and RNA analysis of tick specimens to detect over 12 common tick-borne pathogens including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis, and Powassan virus. Results are delivered in 1-3 business days.
• Logan Ryan (NFL Veteran)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBug Bite Thing partnered with NFL veteran Logan Ryan to support shelter dogs through the RARF (Riley's Animal Rescue Foundation) initiative. The partnership benefits shelter dogs and aligns the brand with animal welfare and outdoor lifestyle audiences.
• University of Rhode Island Tick Encounter Resource Center (TERC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBug Bite Thing's tick removal education and 'How It Works' content references TERC's expertise on tick biology, bite prevention, and removal guidelines. The company aligns its tick removal instructions with CDC and TERC recommendations.
• Girl Scouts of Southeast FloridaminorOthersBug Bite Thing participates in community giving back to local organizations including the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida as part of its corporate social responsibility program.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie CountyminorOthersBug Bite Thing actively gives back to local community organizations including the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County, where the company is headquartered.
• St. Lucie County Chamber of CommerceminorOthersBug Bite Thing is an active member of the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce supporting local business community development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• TickEase: TickEase is a tick removal tool brand that Bug Bite Thing acquired in June 2023, previously an independent direct competitor in the fine-tipped tick removal space. It is comparable because it serves the same use case (CDC-compliant tick removal for humans and pets) and historically competed for the same outdoor and pet-owner customer.
• Murphy's Naturals: Murphy's Naturals sells natural and plant-based insect repellents, citronella products, and outdoor wellness items with a strong DTC and natural-channel presence. Comparable to Bug Bite Thing as both brands target health-conscious and outdoor-family consumers with chemical-conscious positioning, although Murphy's focuses on prevention rather than post-bite treatment.
• Adventure Medical Kits: Adventure Medical Kits produces compact first aid kits and outdoor medical supplies, including bite and sting treatments, sold through outdoor specialty retail. Comparable to Bug Bite Thing because both products sit in the outdoor first aid kit, address insect-bite emergencies, and are purchased by the same hiking, camping, and travel consumer.

Direct peers

• After Bite (Tender Corporation): After Bite is the most established direct competitor in the over-the-counter insect bite and sting relief category, sold across the same retail channels as Bug Bite Thing. Both target the same use case (relieving itching and swelling from mosquito bites, bee stings, etc.) but with fundamentally different mechanisms (After Bite uses topical ammonia-based chemistry vs. Bug Bite Thing's mechanical suction).
• Sawyer Products: Sawyer Products manufactures insect repellents, permethrin treatments, and outdoor bite-prevention products sold through outdoor retailers and Amazon. It is comparable to Bug Bite Thing because both serve the same outdoor enthusiast and family customer, address the same insect-exposure problem (prevention vs. post-bite treatment), and share similar retail and e-commerce distribution patterns.
• StingEze: StingEze is a direct competitor offering topical liquid relief for insect bites and stings, often sold in outdoor, sporting goods, and pharmacy channels similar to Bug Bite Thing. Targets the same end consumer need — quick itch and sting relief during outdoor activities — but via a different application format (wipe/liquid vs. suction tool).

Broad incumbents

• Repel (off! brand family): Repel manufactures insect repellents, including DEET and plant-based formulations, sold across outdoor and mass retail. Comparable to Bug Bite Thing in that both serve outdoor consumers managing insect exposure and share similar retail channels, though Repel is positioned upstream as prevention rather than treatment.
• Thermacell: Thermacell is a broader incumbent in outdoor insect protection, offering propane- and battery-powered mosquito repellent devices for patios, backyards, and camping. Comparable to Bug Bite Thing as both target consumers seeking relief from mosquito exposure, but Thermacell focuses on area-wide prevention while Bug Bite Thing treats bites after they occur.
• Cutter (off! brand family): Cutter is a mass-market insect repellent brand offering sprays, candles, and yard treatments for mosquito and tick protection. It overlaps with Bug Bite Thing in the same retail channels (Walmart, Target, grocery) and addresses the same outdoor-bite consumer need, although its portfolio is focused on prevention rather than post-bite relief.
• Off! / SC Johnson: Off! (manufactured by SC Johnson) is a global incumbent in insect repellent sprays and lotions, sold across mass-market retail. It competes indirectly with Bug Bite Thing by addressing the same underlying consumer need (managing mosquito/tick exposure outdoors) and occupying overlapping shelf space at CVS, Target, Walmart, and grocery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bugbitething
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BugBiteThingOfficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/bugbitething
• Instagraminstagram.com/bugbitething
• TikToktiktok.com/@bugbitething
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bug-bite-thing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bug Bite Thing