Stings vs. Bites:

• Insect bites and stings occur when an insect becomes agitated and seeks to defend itself by using its natural defense mechanisms. Insects inject a formic acid, which can cause an immediate skin reaction, if stung or bitten redness and swelling in the area are common. The sting from bees, wasps, and hornets are usually painful, while bites from mosquitoes, fleas, and mites are more likely to cause itching rather than pain.

• It is important to know the difference between a bee sting and an insect bite. Due to the fact that the venom of stinging insects vary among the species, the body’s reaction may differ significantly depending on what you are stung by.

• The most aggressive of the stinging insects are the vespid wasps, yellow jackets and bald-faced hornets; all of which will fiercely defend their nests and may even attack without being provoked.

• For those individuals that are highly allergic to bee stings, the honeybee is usually the most serious threat of the stinging insects. For when the honeybee stings, they release a pheromone that will then prompt other nearby bees to attack, this can lead to being stung multiple times, increasing the amount of venom injected.

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Types of Reactions:

• Normal Reactions: Skin, involving the sting site will have redness, itching, and/or pain.

• Local Reaction: The swelling around the sting site is greater than 5cm, the skin reaction to the insect sting or bite may last for a few days. However, in rare cases the local reaction could last up to two years.

• Systematic Reaction: Symptoms occur in areas outside of the sting sight (SOB, wheezing, hives, etc.) For those individuals that are highly allergic to venom, symptoms could lead to anaphylaxis, shock and death.

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Fire Ants: Fire ants are known for their aggressive behavior. Their sting is very painful and produces a sensation similar to what one may feel like when burned by fire hence the name Fire Ant.