Mosquito bites typically appear as small, raised, puffy bumps on the skin that are red or lighter in color compared to the surrounding area. Often, there is a small, dark spot in the center of the bump, which marks the exact site where the mosquito bit you

. These bites usually develop within minutes after the bite and can become reddish-brown over the course of a day

. The bites are initially painless but soon become very itchy and inflamed. In some cases, especially in children or sensitive individuals, the bite can swell significantly and form painful, hive-like welts, a reaction sometimes called "skeeter syndrome"

. The bites commonly occur on exposed skin areas such as the ankles, hairline, backs of knees, neck, face, and arms

. In summary, mosquito bites look like small, red, raised, itchy bumps with a possible dark center spot, often appearing singly or in random patterns on exposed skin