Whether it’s a mosquito, flea or tick, getting bitten by an insect is never a pleasant experience. While in some cases the bite is benign and harmless, in others it can be more serious, causing allergic reactions and illness. So it’s vital to know the nature of the insect that has bitten you, so you can act sooner rather than later.
How to recognize the insect that has bitten you?
When you’re bitten by an insect, the pain isn’t always immediate.
Some insect bites are even painless. To recognize them, when you haven’t seen the culprit, rely on the appearance of pimples and itching on your skin: in fact, as explained on the Artémis site, insects do not have the same mode of action depending on their species.
A wasp sting is not the same as a mosquito or spider bite. In the case of a mosquito sting, you’ll feel a simple itching sensation triggered by a circular redness the size of a 1 euro coin. On the other hand, if the sting has been made by an insect with a stinger, such as a wasp, hornet or bee, you’ll immediately feel a sharp pain.
This is often accompanied by a throbbing heat. In the most alarming cases, you may experience swelling of the tongue or respiratory tract. In these cases, you need to go straight to the emergency room. As for ants or horseflies, their bites cause redness and swelling of the skin, accompanied by pruritus.
What to do when you’ve been bitten by an insect?
Although insect bites can be very painful, they are benign in most cases. So there’s no need to panic. First of all, avoid scratching the affected area, as this could aggravate the itching and trigger an infection. Apply an antiseptic solution as soon as possible.
If necessary, remove the insect’s stinger, taking care not to break the sting under the skin. Finally, apply cold to the infected area with ice wrapped in a clean cloth for about 5 minutes. This will calm the pain and itching. Keep an eye on the affected area, and if you feel chills, sweating, a drop in blood pressure or the urge to vomit, call for help immediately.
How to get rid of these pests?
The best way to get rid of these pests is to call in professional pest control specialists.
Specialists in the elimination of these insects, they have the necessary know-how and equipment to sanitize your space as quickly as possible. They’ll propose solutions adapted to each type of insect. However, there are a few things you can do before they get involved.
For example, if you notice bedbugs in your bed, remember to machine-wash all your bed linen and supporting fabric. Clean out infested furniture and use diatomaceous earth to spread around the room and bed.
For mosquitoes, use essential oils such as thyme or lemon eucalyptus. To repel bees, wasps and hornets, place a container of ground coffee or cloves near their nest.
