Beverly Sparks, Extension Entomologist
Stinging
Contact
Biting
Attention! Pesticide Precautions
For most people, a single sting will cause pain, swelling and stiffness (if the sting was in a joint) that may last only a few minutes or for one or more days.
Some people can develop more dramatic reactions, swelling may involve an entire arm or leg and last several days requiring hospital treatment.
A third type of reaction is called "anaphylactic shock." In a few people their immune system goes "wrong" and within minutes after receiving a sting they may develop: (a) constriction in the chest and nausea; (b) difficulty in breathing and swallowing; (c) fall in blood pressure, blue color in the skin (lack of oxygen), and in extreme cases, unconsciousness and death.
Those who develop more than just the normal symptoms from a single sting should see their physician about the need to be desensitized and/or the need to carry an allergy first aid kit with them.
Bees, wasps, hornets, fire ants and scorpions most of those pests that inject venom from the tip of their abdomen are considered beneficial because of their importance in pollination or in preying on other pest insects. You can reduce the effects of venomous stings by applying wet salt to the site within five minutes of the sting. Leave the salt in place for 30 minutes. The salt will "draw" the venom from the wound. Similar results have been obtained with moistened tobacco, wet baking soda or wet aspirin.
The cicada killer, mud-dauber, and scorpion are solitary and are usually encountered one at a time. They are non-aggressive but will sting if provoked or trapped against the bare skin. Their food consists of spiders and insects.
Cicada
killer -- It varies in length from one to 1 1/2 inches. This large
wasp is black or rusty in color with yellow bands on the abdomen. It nests in
burrows in the ground and provisions its nest with cicadas. Nesting usually
occurs in sod covered areas but the grass is not harmed. The solitary adult
is often seen as it hovers one to two feet above the ground near the entrance
to its nest.
Mud dauber -- The pipe-organ mud daubers are elongated, slender,
usually shiny-black wasps. They vary in length from about a half inch to an
inch or more. They make their mud nests with the cells arranged in the form
of a long tubes, hence the common name. They make a buzzing sound as they shape
the mud into a nest. These wasps provision their nests with spiders. The nests
are often in 
protected
but open areas under the roof eaves of buildings or sheds.
Scorpions -- The scorpions occur across the country. The abdomen is broadly joined to the head area and is differentiated into two parts; a broad seven-segmented front portion and a much narrower five-segmented rear portion that terminates in a stinger.
They prefer to nest under rocks, tree bark, boards, discarded railroad
ties and rubbish piles. Those found in Georgia are about two inches
long and the pain of the sting is similar to that of a bee or wasp.
Control -- Chemical controls are usually not necessary or appropriate. The insecticide Sevin is effective for controlling of or discouraging nesting of cicada killers in turf areas. Scorpions can be killed with an application of insecticide, but eliminating their breeding areas is more effective. There is not a good insecticide registered for the control of mud-daubers. Mud-daubers are not aggressive and their nests can usually be physically destroyed with little danger from the wasp.
Bees, wasps, hornets and ants develop colonies where there may be a few dozen to thousands of individuals with a queen, workers and an elaborate social structure. These are the social insects. While most individuals are non-aggressive, all will sting if handled. The social bees, wasps and hornets are a greater threat from their stinging than the solitary ones because if they perceive the nest is in danger they will attack in large numbers.Those that make a paper nest construct them of plant fiber and salivary secretions. In the fall when temperatures cool and food becomes scarce, the female wasps and hornets frequently enter homes for hibernation.
Honey
bee -- One of the most widely known social insects, the honey bee was
brought to this country from Europe many years ago. Most colonies are in man-made
hives but escaped swarms often nest in hollow trees, wall voids and attics.
Honey bee colonies last several years with the queen and workers overwintering
in the hive. A queen may live several years.
Aside from the nest, individual honey bees are encountered when they are collecting nectar and pollen from blossoms. Walking in bare feet across a lawn which has blooming clover or dandelions will often result in a sting. When a bee is trapped between clothing and skin, it will usually sting.
Bumble
bee -- Most people are familiar with this big, buzzing, furry, yellow
and black bee that can produce a very painful sting. Like yellow jackets and
hornets, only fertilized females hibernate during the winter and each one starts
a new nest during the spring. Nests are usually constructed in cavities in the
soil previously used by field mice. People are usually not stung unless they
disturb the nest.
Umbrella wasp or the Polistes wasps -- These are dusky brown
wasps with various orange markings. They construct an open paper nest suspended
from a short stalk. Those that build their nests under the eaves of houses,
on porches, in attics or in dense shrubbery can become a problem. A new nest
is 
made
each year, founded by a fertilized overwintering queen. They feed themselves
and their young on caterpillars. Nests are small compared to those of the yellowjackets
and hornets and contain only up to about 250 wasps.
Yellowjacket
-- These are small ( 1/2 inch long) wasps marked with yellow. Colonies are initiated
by overwintering queens. Their paper nests are made underground, but occasionally
in hollow trees, wall voids and attics or on a branch over a stream. A fully
developed nest may contain from a few hundred to many thousand adults. They
feed on a variety of pest insects, but will also forage for meat or soft drinks
at picnic, camp, and garbage sites. This habit often brings them into close
association with people. Good sanitation in picnic areas can help reduce yellow
jackets. Solitary scavenging yellowjackets are usually non-aggressive unless
handled. They become very aggressive as a group if they believe the nest is
threatened, and they will vigorously pursue the intruder. They are generally
considered the most dangerous of the social insects.
Baldfaced
hornet -- The white or light yellowish markings on the face, thorax
and part of the abdomen help to identify this hornet. It's nest looks like a
"bloated football" high off the ground in a tree or bush. There is,
usually, a single entrance opening at the lower end of the nest.
European,
or giant hornet -- This hornet is large (over one inch), with its head
and thorax a characteristic dark brown; the only yellow markings are on the
abdomen. It makes a paper nest in hollow tree trunks, buildings, and occasionally
in the ground or in aerial situations. It chews the bark off living plants,
such as the lilac, to make the paper for its nest. They are attracted to ripening
fruit, meat and sweets, and to lights on summer evenings. They aren't usually
a problem unless their nest is near human activity.
Fire
ant -- Superficially, fire ants look much like ordinary house and garden
ants. As with the wasps and hornets, fire ants inject venom from the tip of
the abdomen. Their sting causes a swollen, red area with a blister that fills
with a pus-like material which heals slowly. A single mound may contain up to
200,000 workers.
Control -- Remember, most social bees, wasps and hornets are beneficial and should not be controlled unless their nest and activities are close to humans and create a hazard. For bees, wasps and hornets apply an insecticide in the evening when they are at rest. With the wind at your back, aim the insecticide at nest openings in trees, bushes, under eaves, ground cracks and crevices in and around nest openings. Re-treatment may be necessary. If possible, destroy the nest, or seal the nest opening.
Readily available insecticides include resmethrin or pyrethrin aerosols for quick knockdown and kill. Some aerosols produce a jet stream of up to 20 feet for operator safety and the ability to reach nests high off the ground. For honey bees nesting in buildings, control procedures are more complicated.
For fire ants, treat individual mounds when freshly rebuilt after rains. Pour an insecticidal drench over a mound so that the mixture will break the surface; do not stir the mound. Use 1 to 2 gallons for an average (12-14" diameter) mound. Insecticides that can be used are acephate (Orthene), Sevin, malathion, cyfluthrin or bifenthrin. There are also bait formulations.
The caterpillars of some moths have sharp, hollow spines or hairs that contain a poison. Contact with these spines causes a burning inflammation of the skin, but can be more serious when in contact with a mucous membrane or the eyes. The spines from dead caterpillars are still poisonous.
Most of these caterpillars feed on the leaves of various hardwood trees and shrubs; contact with people is uncommon. The poisoned spines are a defense mechanism, and the colorful patterns or unusual body shapes serve as a warning to their enemies. There are about 25 species, three of the more common ones are described below.
Puss
caterpillar -- It may be pale yellow, gray or reddish brown, about
one inch long and densely covered with hairs. Among these hairs are hollow spines
with venom. Stings on the hand can cause the entire arm to swell and become
numb. There is severe pain followed by itching. Young children are often more
severely affected. Large population increases in local areas can cause a problem.
Saddleback
caterpillar -- This caterpillar is green, with a brown saddle mark
on its back. It has fleshy "knobs" on its body with venom-filled spines.
Hag
moth caterpillar -- A strange looking brownish caterpillar with four
pairs of long, plume-like projections on the back, projecting out the sides
and suggesting the disarranged hairs of a hag. Among the brown hairs on the
plumes are longer black stinging hairs.
Control -- Control is usually not needed since contact is
uncommon, and then only with an isolated individual. If numbers of stinging
caterpillars are seen feeding on the foliage around areas where children are
active, spray the foliage with Sevin or malathion labeled for tree and shrub
application. Remember, dead caterpillars can still cause painful stings. Spread
a cloth or plastic sheet under a tree or shrub to collect the fallen dead caterpillars,
and then carefully dispose of them. 
The puncture from the bite, the saliva used in feeding or venom (spiders) can cause pain, swelling and itching.
Mosquitoes -- There are over 50 species of mosquitoes in Georgia, only a few of which feed on man. The female mosquito must have a blood meal before her eggs will develop. Eggs are layed near or on the water, depending on the species. The eggs hatch into larvae or "wigglers." These develop into pupae or "tumblers" and the adult emerges from the pupa. Egg to adult can occur in seven to 10 days. Female mosquitoes will range from 300 feet to 20 miles or more in search of a blood meal, depending upon the species. Most can fly in a radius of at least one mile. Most, but not all, females prefer to feed in the evening. The saliva they inject helps to keep the blood from coagulating as they feed; it is also an irritant responsible for some of the itching and swelling.
Mosquitoes that bite in the evening can breed in ditches, ponds, temporary pools, marshes and swamps. Mosquitoes that bite during the day often breed in artificial containers, such as tires, buckets, bottles, etc.
Deer
and Horse Flies -- These are strong fliers and serious pests of warm-blooded
animals and people. Only the females need a blood meal. Their mouthparts are
bladelike and it is painful when they cut through the skin. When the blood is
flowing from the wound they will "lap" it up. The larvae feed in a
wide variety of wet or damp sites that are high in organic material. Most females
feed during the warmer parts of the day, but some species prefer the hours at
dawn or dusk. Horse flies are larger than the deer flies and usually have clear
wings while the deer fly has dark markings on the wings.
Biting
Midges,""no-see-ums," "punkies," or "sand flies"
-- They are very small flies (about 1/25-1/10) inch long whose small but bladelike
mouthparts make a painful wound out of proportion to its tiny size. Welts and
lesions from the bite may last for days. The larvae of various species breed
in a wide variety of damp or wet places high in organic matter. Most are attracted
to lights. One vicious biter breeds along the Atlantic coast in salt marshes
and wet soil. Another species, found in mountainous areas, feeds in the evening
and night hours and is small enough to pass through ordinary screens. These
are important pests along coastal and mountainous areas and can seriously interfere
with outdoor activities.
Black
Flies, or buffalo gnats -- These are very small (1/25 to 1/5 inch)
blood-sucking flies that are black to gray in color. They usually bite in shaded
or partially shaded areas and may fly as far as 15 miles from breeding areas.
The larvae are found attached to under water objects in shallow, fast-running
rivers and streams. For this reason they can be very troublesome in mountainous
areas. The saliva injected while feeding causes swelling and numb- soreness
that may persist for days.
Control -- Because of the wide-spread breeding sites and long flight range of most mosquitoes, deer and horse flies, biting midges and black flies, control by homeowners is not very practical. Pyrethrin or resmethrin aerosols can be used indoors for occasional invaders. For day biting mosquitoes, the elimination of artificial containers as a breeding site (turn over, puncture, cover with plastic, or store in an area protected from rain) can reduce biting since these mosquitoes only fly a few hundred feet from their breeding area.
Repellents can be used outdoors when needed. Various formulations (many different brand names) containing "deet" (N,N-diethyl-m-toulamide) can be applied to the skin to give several hours of protection. Perspiration and activity tend to reduce the length of protection. Those formulations with a higher percent of "deet" tend to last longer but also tend to cost more. For additional protection against mosquitoes that bite through clothing, Permanone (brand name of an aerosol) containing permethrin, which is sprayed on clothing to repel and kill ticks, is also effective against flying insect pests for a day or more.
Electromagnetic and ultra sonic devices are sometimes advertised to control these pests, but are worthless. There is no evidence black lights with electric grids for outdoor patios give any control of these insects.
Fleas
-- All adult fleas feed exclusively on the blood of their host. Fleas are common
on most mammals -- including cats, dogs and rodents. They are wingless and have
strong legs for jumping. Eggs from the female hatch in the nest or resting areas
of the host. The eggs hatch in about 10 days into tiny, worm-like white larvae
that feed on flea excrement, skin scales and other debris. The larva take from
a week to several months to complete development before they pupate and emerge
as adults. Adult fleas can survive for two to four months without a blood meal.
Cat and dog fleas will readily bite man, especially when the normal host is
absent. When people go on vacation for a week or more, a large number of fleas
will often be waiting for the owners upon their return. Large numbers of fleas
can also build up in yards. Fleas most often bite people on the legs and ankles.
A small red spot usually appears at the bite site surrounded by a red halo with
little swelling. Young children tend to be more sensitive than older ones.
Chiggers
-- The chigger is a tiny red-colored mite which in its immature stage will feed
on man, rodents, birds, snakes and a wide variety of other animals. It is especially
common in second growth areas, blackberry patches and forest edges. Chiggers
are very active in crawling about looking for a host, and may crawl over the
skin for some hours before beginning to feed. When the mouthparts are inserted
into the skin, a fluid is injected that dissolves the cells upon which it feeds.
The chigger does not, as commonly believed burrow into the skin. Itching can
begin three to six hours after exposure. Examination of the skin may reveal
minute red mites moving rapidly over the surface. A soapy bath taken as soon
as their presence is noted will often remove many of them before they begin
feeding.
Ticks
-- The two most common ticks that will feed on man in Georgia are the American
dog tick and the lone star tick. The adult female tick drops from the host after
a blood meal to lay her eggs. These will hatch and develop in turn into three
stages -- the larva (similar to the adult and nymph, but very tiny -- sometimes
called a "seed tick"), nymph and adult. During each of these three
stages the tick will attach itself to a host, take a blood meal then drop off
to continue the cycle. All stages of the lone star tick will attack man but
only the adult stage of the American dog tick. Both ticks feed on a wide variety
of animals, although the American dog tick is especially common on dogs, and
the lone star tick on deer and livestock. Ticks are most common along trails,
feeding and resting areas of their hosts. Both can carry Rocky Mountain Spotted
Fever (RMSF), a dangerous disease. It causes a skin rash and high fever that
may be mistaken for measles.
The
black-legged tick is less commonly found on people, but it carries Lyme disease.
This disease initially has flu like symptoms and sometimes an expanding red
rash at the bite site. Months or years later the disease can invade the neurological,
cardiovascular or joints of the body. Lyme disease mimics other disease, such
as rheumatoid arthritis. The characteristic rash only occurs in about 70 percent
of the cases. Early treatment with antibiotics is much more effective than months
or years later.
When in tick infested areas, you should check your body at least twice a day for ticks, especially the back of the head. Since imbedded ticks need about 12 to 24 hours to transmit RMSF or Lyme disease, early removal is a good preventative for these diseases. Any imbedded ticks should be removed with tweezers close to the point of attachment, or the tick wrapped in cloth or paper to avoid contact with the fingers. Juices from an infected tick can transmit RMSF. Remove the tick by pulling gently but firmly.
Spiders
-- While spiders are beneficial in that they feed on various insects, there
are at least two in Georgia that are dangerous to man. One is the black widow.
It is a shiny black with a red hour glass design under the abdomen. This spider
makes an irregular web in piles of trash and lumbers. She is timid and will
not usually bite unless handled. The other is the brown recluse; its dark violin-shaped
marking is distinctive. It is also a timid spider and seldom seen since it lives
in undisturbed areas inside buildings (under the basement steps, unused clothing,
etc.), or outside under rocks, piles of tires, under houses or under loose tree
bark.
The bite of the black widow is very painful, while the bite of the brown recluse can cause a spreading ulcer that is slow to heal and can leave a scar. Suspected bites should be treated promptly by a physician and the identification of the spider confirmed - your county Extension agent can help.
Control -- Control fleas on pet dogs and cats greatly reduces the problem on man. Vacuuming pet resting areas at least twice a week in the house reduces all flea stages in the carpet and flooring. Aerosol sprays can be used to fumigate infested rooms. The inclusion of methoprene, a growth regulator, with an insecticide is the best combination for long control. Methoprene is slow in its action since it does not kill (the insecticide usually with it will give a quick kill), but stops the growth of the flea. This is a very safe and effective long-term control method. Outside, various formulations of Sevin, bifenthrin or cyfluthrin can be used in the yard. Read the label carefully for proper use. For outdoor control of chiggers and ticks, personal protection from a repellent is often the most practical due to the wide spread areas in which they are found. Repellents containing "deet" (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are available under many brand names. Application to the skin or clothing will usually give several hours protection. Those with a higher percentage active ingredient usually last longer, but also often cost more. Permethrin (Permanone by brand name) comes as an aerosol and is applied to the clothing only. It is effective in repelling and killing chiggers and ticks. Using "deet" on the skin and permethrin on the clothing seems to give the best protection, although either alone is effective. Open sunlit areas where the grass is cut short discourages ticks and chiggers because these areas are not humid enough for their survival.
Reduce spiders by removing piles of wood and trash close to inhabited areas. Spot-treat infested areas with products containing bifenthrin or cyfluthrin.
Circular 782/Revised January, 2002
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