How can I tell the difference between molluscum and an insect bite?

What the evidence says

Molluscum bumps are usually smooth, shiny, and flesh- or pinkish-white coloured, with a small dip or dimple in the centre and a cheesy-looking core. They tend to appear gradually, weeks after exposure, can show up anywhere on the body (though rarely on palms, soles or scalp), and can number from just one to dozens. Left alone, they stick around for weeks to months before going away on their own.

Insect bites, by contrast, appear quickly, usually within hours of being bitten. They are typically red, raised, and itchy, sometimes with a tiny central puncture mark or small blister, and they usually fade within a day or two, though some reactions can last a few days. Bites from things like bedbugs or fleas often appear in small clusters or lines rather than scattered randomly.

A few other clues: molluscum bumps are firm and don't usually look inflamed unless irritated by scratching or developing surrounding eczema, whereas bites tend to look more swollen, warm, and red from the start. If bumps are new every day in a random pattern with no dimple, a bite is more likely; if bumps are stable in appearance, dome-shaped with a central pit, and not going away after a week or two, molluscum is more likely. When it's genuinely unclear, or if bumps are spreading, look infected, or are bothering your child, it's worth having a doctor confirm the diagnosis.

Canadian guidance specifically recommends this so treatment (if any) is appropriate and other causes aren't missed.