Flying insects bites and stings
insect; bite; sting; bee; wasp; mosquito; anaphylaxis; bed; bug; spider; tick;
Contents
There are many biting insects around, especially in summer. While you can do some things to help avoid being bitten, bites often happen and you need to be prepared. Most insect bites and stings are not poisonous, but the bites of some flying insects such as wasps and bees can cause problems.
There are separate topics on 'Spiders, ants and other little biters', 'Snakebites' and those very 'popular' insects, 'Headlice'.
- Stings are used by some insects such as bees and wasps to protect themselves.
- They inject a painful poison into a person's skin through their stinger.
- When bees sting they leave the stinger with the poison pouch attached in the skin of the person who has been stung, so more poison can keep going into the skin until it is all gone or the stinger is removed.
- Some insects feed on blood from animals or people, and their bites can be irritating to the skin.
What to do in an emergency
Allergic reactions can be caused by stings from insects such as bees and wasps.
- Watch out for symptoms such as hives, itching, stomach cramps, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and swallowing, and fainting.
- The most dangerous symptoms are breathing difficulties or a drop in blood pressure (shock). Either of these can be fatal. This reaction, called anaphylaxis [anna-fill-axis] is rare, but is preventable and treatable. There is a topic about this on the Parenting and Child Health section of this site.
- Take the person to the nearest emergency medical centre immediately or call the emergency service number (000 in Australia).
- Anaphylaxis is not common, but it has caused some people to die.
Bee stings
For most people, bee stings cause pain, and sometimes swelling around the spot where the sting occurred. Some people get a lot of swelling around the sting, but only a few, very sensitive people get serious reactions.
- Remove the stinger. Do not pull it out, as this causes more venom to be injected. Use a blunt knife (or similar object) to scrape the stinger out.
- An ice or a cold pack usually eases the pain; the pain lasts a few hours or less.
- If the person has a more major reaction, like feeling really sick or swelling up, see a doctor to work out what to do next time.
- If there is a severe reaction, like problems with breathing, get help from an emergency service (in Australia, dial 000).
Mosquito bites
- Many people feel a sting when a mosquito bites, and get a small red lump which itches, then goes away after a day or so.
- Some people get much larger lumps, which can last a week or more, and these can be extremely itchy.
- Sometimes people, especially small kids, scratch their itchy bites so much that they make them bleed. If this happens and they are not kept clean, they can get infected and become very red and sore.
- It seems as though some people are 'mozzie magnets' – that is, they are more 'attractive' to mosquitoes. They might get many bites, while other people may not get any at all.
- Mosquitoes can pass on some infections, such as malaria, Ross River Virus and Japanese encephalitis, but they do not pass on HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
Preventing mosquito bites
- Try to stay indoors when bites are most likely to happen. Some mosquitoes will bite during the day, but many are at their 'biting best' for two to three hours around sunset and sunrise!
- Wear long-sleeved, loose, light coloured clothing that covers as much of the body as possible. Mosquitoes can bite through tight clothing such as jeans.
- Use inset repellents containing DEET (diethyl-toluamide) or picaridin on uncovered skin (read the labels or ask the chemist). Remember the back of your neck and around your ankles.
- Mosquitoes breed in still water. Take a look around your yard and empty out any rubbish that may hold water.
- Give your pet fresh water every day so that mosquitoes can’t breed in it.
- Use a mosquito net over your bed if mosquitoes cannot be kept out of the house.
- Take insect repellent cream to put on any bits of you that will be outside the sleeping bag if you are camping out.
European wasps
- European wasps are black with 2 yellow stripes, with colourless wings that fold alongside the body. They are about the same size as bees, but bees are more orange in colour.
- Native wasps look different and are not environmental pests although they can sting.
- European wasps build their nests of paper-like material while most native wasps build their nests using mud.
- European wasp nests are always in dark places such as underground or inside walls.
- Nests of native paper wasps are also built of paper-like material but are out where you can see them, in trees or under the eaves of houses.
- Sweet foods and meats attract European wasps. They 'hang around' pet food bowls, picnic areas, barbecues and schoolyards.
- They may crawl into the openings of soft drink cans and bottles. If they are not noticed, they can sting a person in the mouth or throat. Drinking from glasses or using a straw lessens the risk of swallowing a wasp.
European Wasp stings
- The biggest danger from European wasps is when their nests are disturbed. Do not deliberately disturb their nests!
- A European wasp can sting many times, not just once like a bee.
- Wasp stings cause very painful red lumps, which can be several centimetres across. The sting becomes itchy, then usually gets better after a week or so.
First aid
- To reduce the pain from a wasp sting, apply ice.
- If the person is stung in the mouth or throat, or has a reaction in any part of the body away from the sting, or if there are lots of stings, get help urgently.
- European wasps are pests that we don’t want in Australia. Tell your teacher if you see them at school, and your parents if you see them at home. Your local Council will have a plan to get rid of these wasps, but they need to know where they are.
Resources
Australia
- Local Councils can usually give advice about European wasps.
- National Poisons Information Centre Network (Australia) – telephone 13 11 26.
References
Department of Health, South Australia
http://www.dh.sa.gov.au/pehs/environ-health-index.htm
Department of Health SA 'Fight the bite' (Protecting families against mosquitoes)
http://www.dh.sa.gov.au/pehs/publications/mozzies-fight-bite.htm
Department of Health SA 'Guidelines for the control of public health pests, (pediculosis, biting fleas, scabies and bedbugs)'
http://enhealth.nphp.gov.au/council/pubs/pdf/vermin.pdf
Australian Museum online - European wasps
http://www.austmus.gov.au/factsheets/european_wasps.htm
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Youth Healthline on 1300 13 17 19 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).