Insect bites and stings typically cause minor itching, swelling, and pain, which can be treated at home by washing the area, using cold compresses, and applying creams or antihistamines. Seek immediate emergency care for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) like breathing issues, throat swelling, or dizziness. Common culprits include bees, wasps, mosquitoes, fleas, and fire ants.

Types of Insect Bites and Stings

• Stinging Insects: Bees, wasps, hornets, and fire ants these often cause immediate, sharp pain. Read more at CDC https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/outdoor-workers/about/insects-and-scorpions.html)
• Biting Insects: Mosquitoes (itchy, red bumps), fleas (small, itchy, clustered, often on legs), and ticks.
Symptoms
• Mild Reaction: Redness, itching, burning, and minor swelling around the bite or sting. • Severe (Allergic) Reaction: Hives, itching, swelling of the lips/tongue, wheezing, throat tightness, or dizziness. • Infection Signs: Increasing pain, swelling, warmth, redness, or red streaks extending from the bite.

Treatment and Care

• Immediate Action: Wash the area with soap and water, remove any stinger (scrape it off, don't pull).

• Reduce Swelling/Pain: Apply a cold pack or ice for 10–20 minutes.

• Itch Relief: Use calamine lotion, 1% hydrocortisone cream, or baking soda paste. • Medication: Take oral antihistamines (e.g., Cetirizine, Loratadine) to reduce itching.

• Pain Management: Use ibuprofen or acetaminophen if necessary.

When to Seek Medical Attention

• Call 911 immediately if you experience anaphylaxis: Trouble breathing, throat tightness, dizziness, or loss of consciousness.
• Seek medical attention if: The bite shows signs of infection (pus, spreading redness), or if you develop fever, chills, or body aches.

Prevention Tips
• Use insect repellent (DEET) and wear long-sleeved clothing.

• Avoid strong perfumes and brightly colored clothing.

• Keep food covered when eating outdoors.

Read more at Mayo Clinic

Spiders are not insects they are carnivorous Arthropods with eight-legs, two body segments (cephalothorax and abdomen), spinnerets for silk production they possess chelicerae (fanged jaws), but no wings and no antennae. There are over 53,000 recorded species in 139 families worldwide, excluding Antarctica.

Most spiders found in the United States and anywhere else pose no threats to people. Spider bites often cause mild swelling, redness, pain, and itching. These mild symptoms are common and may last from a few hours to a few days. Some people may have more severe reactions. Home treatment is often all that you need to relieve symptoms and treat the skin area.

Home Treatment for yourself:
• Don't scratch or rub the skin around the area.
• Put ice or a cold pack on the area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time for several hours. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.
• Try an over-the-counter medicine for itching, redness, swelling, and pain. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
• Take an over-the-counter antihistamine to help calm the itching or swelling.
• Put a hydrocortisone 1% cream or calamine lotion on the skin.

However, there are two species in the southern and western United States that can cause serious harm when they are accidentally disturbed - the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse. Click the 2 names above to get a guide to help you identify some of the 2 most dangerous spiders and their potential threat to human health.

also read more at PestWorld

( https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-articles/spiders-101/ )

When should you call for help?

If you know you are bitten by either of these two spiders,

*contact your doctor now or seek immediate medical care, particularly when:
• You have symptoms of infection, such as:
> Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness around the bite or sting.
> Red streaks leading from the area.
> Pus draining from the area.
> A fever.
• You get a blister or sore at the bite or sting area, or the area turns purple.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
• You have pain or burning at the area after 2 days of home treatment.
• You have symptoms for more than 1 week.

*Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
• You passed out (lost consciousness).
• You have a seizure.
• You have trouble breathing. ​