uk insects and bugs that bite or sting

8/12/2019 UK Insects and Bugs That Bite or Sting

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UK insects and bugs that bite

or sting

The humble wasp (and closely related hornet) can give a nasty sting if it feels threatened, leading to

itching and swelling. And wasp stings arent always harmless. Stings from wasps cause the most

allergic reactions in the U.

!ou wont have an allergic reactionafter your first sting by a wasp, but you can develop a serious

allergic reaction (also "nown as an anaphylactic reaction) after one or more stings have #sensitised#

your system.

Prevent wasp stings$ %ont try to swat wasps away. !oull &ust ma"e them cross and more li"ely to

sting you. 'nstead, calmly and slowly move out of their way. i"e other stinging insects, wasps love

bright colours so wear white or neutral clothes to deter them. oo" out for wasps nests in your home

or garden and have them removed immediately by your local council or a pest control e*pert when you

find them.

See a doctor if:you develop symptoms of aserious allergic reaction.

Bees

A bee sting feels similar to that of a wasp. The difference is that the bee leaves its sting inside you and

its important to remove it to stop infection setting in. +ead how toremove a bee sting.

ee stings are painful, but unless you have an allergy to bees, theyre unli"ely to cause serious

damage. 'f youre allergic to wasp stings, dont assume youll also be allergic to bee venom. ee and

wasp venoms are different and people who are allergic to wasp venom are rarely allergic to bee

venom.
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Allergies/Pages/Introduction.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Anaphylaxis/Pages/Introduction.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Stings-insect/Pages/Treatmentold.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Allergies/Pages/Introduction.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Anaphylaxis/Pages/Introduction.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Stings-insect/Pages/Treatmentold.aspx


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Prevent bee stings$ Stay still and calm while a bee bu--es around you. ees love sweet drin"s and

the last thing you want to do is swallow one, so be sure to loo" before you sip your drin" at picnics and

barbecues.


Ticks

Strictly spea"ing, these small spiderli"e creatures arent insects, but tic"s are increasingly becoming

an unpleasant feature of strolls through U woods, moors or thic" grass. /nce theyve latched onto

you, tic"s cling to your s"in and suc" your blood. The bite doesnt really hurt, but certain types of tic"

can transmit a condition called yme disease. Therefore, remove a tic"as soon as you spot one on

your s"in.

Prevent tick bites$ 0ear long sleeves and trousers when youre wal"ing in forested, overgrown areas

and use a tic" repellent.

See a doctor if:you get a circular rash spreading out from where you were bitten or you develop

thesymptoms of yme disease.

Send any tic"s you collect to the 1ealth 2rotection Agency and theyll identify them for you. 3ind out

more about the 12As Tic" +ecording Scheme.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are a nuisance. Their bites cause intense itching and swelling and spoil many a picnic and camping

trip. But while they transmit deadly diseases in other parts of the world, they dont cause major harm in the UK.

Prevent mosquito bites$ Smells and bright colours attract insects. Avoid using scented hand or body

creams and strong perfumes and spar"ly, colourful &ewellery if youre going to spend time outside.

'nsect repellents are also effective. %ont forget to cover up and use repellent at night if youre

camping. +ead more about how to treat mos4uito bites.
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Anaphylaxis/Pages/Introduction.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-insect/Pages/Treatment.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Lyme-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspxhttp://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/Ticks/TickRecordingScheme/http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-insect/Pages/Treatment.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Anaphylaxis/Pages/Introduction.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-insect/Pages/Treatment.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Lyme-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspxhttp://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/Ticks/TickRecordingScheme/http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-insect/Pages/Treatment.aspx


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Flower bugs

lower bug may sound innocuous, pretty e!en, but don"t be fooled. #roperly $nown as %nthocoris nemorum,

these common predatory insects, which feed on aphids and mites, can ta$e an aggressi!e bite out of human s$in

too. The wounds are !ery itchy and often slow to heal.

!ou can identify the common flower bug by its tiny oval body, reflective wings and orangebrown legs.

oo" out for them on flowering plants in meadows, par"s and gardens.Prevent flower bug bites$ The common flower bug bite isnt serious, but its very annoying. !ou could

use insect repellent when gardening or, better still, cover your bare s"in and wear gloves to stop them

nipping. 3lower bugs are great for the garden so dont be tempted to use a general insecticide to get

rid of them.

Midges

Midges are the scourge of trips to the &cottish 'ighlands and a common feature throughout the rest of the UK,

especially on damp and cloudy summer days. Midge bites dont transmit illness but theyre painful, itch

intensely and can swell up alarmingly.

Prevent midge bites$ 5idges tend to attac" in swarms, especially in hot weather, so use an insect

repellent and cover up at dawn and dus". 2rotective gear, such as mesh covers for your face, can be

very effective too.

Ladybirds


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The harlequin ladybird is a recent in!ader to our shores, but in the space of just a few years has colonised much

of the UK. Theyre bigger, rounder and more aggressi!e than nati!e ladybirds such as the two spot and se!en

spot. %ll ladybirds can nip, but harlequins seem to bite more than others.

ow to spot it$ The harle4uin ladybird can be red or orange with multiple spots. oo" out for a white

spot on its head 6 native red ladybirds never have white patches.

Prevent ladybird bites$ 0ear gloves when gardening, but try not to intentionally "ill harle4uin

ladybirds. 'ts hard to selectively get rid of them without hurting native ladybirds, and all ladybirds are

good for the garden.

Bedbugs

Bedbugs are a growing problem in the UK. They dont carry disease, but their bites cause itchy red bumps. &ome

people ha!e a serious s$in reaction with blisters that can become infected.

!"at to do$ 'f you thin" your home is infested with bedbugs (tiny blac" spots on your mattress and

bed are a giveaway), get a pest control e*pert to treat it straight away. %ont be embarrassed 6

bedbugs are not a sign of a dirty home. +ead more about bedbugs.

orseflies
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bed-bugs/Pages/Introduction.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bed-bugs/Pages/Introduction.aspx


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% large, hairy fly whose bite can be e(tremely painful, the horsefly tends to bite on warm, sunny days, especially

the head and upper body.

Prevent "orsefly bites$ The horsefly doesnt spread disease, but as its bite cuts the s"in rather than

piercing it, horse fly bites are very painful, ta"e longer to heal than other insect bites and can easily

become infected, so cover up and use insect repellent. +ead what to do if you have an infected insect

bite.

#nts

/ur most common ant, the blac" garden variety, doesnt sting, but the U has red, wood and flying

ants that do, especially in warm weather or when threatened. !oull feel a nip, but its all pretty

harmless as ants have less to*in in their sting than wasps or bees. The only evidence youve been

stung will probably be a pale pin" mar".

Prevent ant bites$ Use overthecounter ant repellent.

Spiders

)ou may be surprised to $now that a number of spiders in the UK are capable of gi!ing a nasty nip * usually

after rough handling or if they become trapped in your clothes. )ou can tell its a spider bite because it lea!es

little puncture mar$s. %ccording to the +atural 'istory Museum, false widow spiders, socalled because of their
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-insect/Pages/Complications.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-insect/Pages/Complications.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-insect/Pages/Complications.aspxhttp://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-insect/Pages/Complications.aspx


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similarity to the more poisonous blac$ widow spider, are the main culprits and typically gi!e bites that cause

pain, redness and swelling.

Prevent spider bites$ %ont disturb spiders if you can help it 6 they tend to bite you only when they

feel threatened.

5anage your symptoms at home and ma"e sure your bite or sting doesnt get infected by using

this bites and stings symptom chec"er.

+ead more about insect bitesand insect stings.

$aterpillars

The caterpillars of an undistinctive brown moth, called the oa" processionary moth, are a real pest. A

recent immigrant to the U, the caterpillars are found feeding on oa" trees in south and west ondon,

7roydon, romley and parts of er"shire. They move about the trees in late spring and summer in

characteristic nosetotail processions ... hence their name8 oo" out, too, for their white sil"en

webbing nests and the white trails they leave on branches and trun"s.

As well as devastating oa" trees, whose branches they can strip bare, the caterpillars have thousands

of tiny hairs that contain a to*in that can trigger itchy s"in rashes, sore throats, breathing difficulties

and eye problems on contact.

Prevent oak processionary mot" problems$ %ont touch or approach the caterpillars or nests. And

dont attempt to move the nests yourself 6 call a pest control e*pert. +eport any sightings to your local

councilor the 3orestry 7ommission.


2age last reviewed$ 99:;e*t review due$ 99:;

uk insects and bugs that bite or sting

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