Do ticks bury themselves beneath the skin or do they stay on the surface? i try to do tick checks several times a day, but i notice a bump under the skin that is red and inflamed and i'm concerned it might be a tick.

No. : No. Ticks remain on the surface of the skin but they insert a special tube like feeding device, called a hypostome, to nourish themselves on your blood. They keep the blood from clotting by excreting an anticoagulant. The bump you feel is not a tick's body, but could be an inflammatory reaction from an insect bite.

Chiggers : Chiggers (trombiculidae) are mites found in the midwest and southeast United States. Their bite can cause a red bump with intense itching. Chiggers don't bury themselves or lay eggs under the skin. They inject digestive enzymes and may remain attached to the skin for several days. They are very hard to see with the naked eye.