Insect bites and stings: how to identify and treat them

A bite or sting from an insect can be a concern, especially if you're not sure what's caused it or it leads to unexpected or worrying symptoms.

Our guide matches photos of stings to the different insects that cause them, plus Professor Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, explains how to treat them effectively.

If an insect bite or sting gets rapidly worse, if symptoms haven't gone away after a few days or if you're worried about it for any reason, seek medical advice.

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Treating bites and stings: the basics

1. Remove any sting, tick or hairs if they're still in the skin.
2. Wash the area with soap and water and apply a cold compress or ice pack for at least 10 minutes. 
3. Elevate the affected area to bring swelling down and don't scratch or burst any blisters as this could increase the risk of infection developing. 
4. Your local pharmacist can provide trusted advice and suggest treatment options through the Pharmacy First scheme, including prescription-only medicines, without needing an appointment with your GP. 
5. The NHS has further advice on insect bites and stings, including what to do if you're worried about symptoms that may develop.

Contact your GP or call 111 if...

• Symptoms don't start to improve within a few days.
• The bite or sting is in the mouth or throat, or near your child's eyes.
• A large area (10cm or more) around the bite becomes red and swollen.
• Symptoms of a wound infection show, such as pus or increasing pain, swelling or redness.
• There's a fever, swollen glands and other flu symptoms.
• Call 999 if there is a rapid (usually within 30 minutes) allergic reaction, including difficulty breathing, and inform them that it's because of a bite or sting.

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Ant stings and bites

Most UK ant varieties are perfectly harmless, including the common black garden ant and the yellow meadow ant, but there are some species that are prepared to bite or sting (or both). These include the 5mm-long common red ant (Myrmica rubra or European fire ant) and the red wood ant (Formica rufa, also known as the southern wood ant or horse ant). 

How to identify and treat an ant sting or bite

You'll feel a sting similar to a nettle sting (which is also caused by formic acid), accompanied by a pink, raised pimple – or lots of pimples if you've significantly disturbed a nest. Wash the sting site with water and apply a cold compress to reduce swelling – antihistamines and Calpol or other infant pain relief medication can also help with symptoms.

Most ant bites or stings are harmless and get better in a matter of days, although sometimes they can become infected or cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) so seek medical advice if you're concerned.

How to avoid ant stings and bites

• Keep lawns free from debris. Fallen leaves and branches, large stones and even paddling pools and sandpits that haven't been moved in a while all create shaded yet moist spots that red ants love.
• Avoid playing or sitting near ant hills. If you see biting ant varieties milling about, move picnic rugs away and encourage children to play elsewhere. Not sure where the ants are nesting? A dome-shaped bump in the lawn can be a tell-tale sign of an ant hill.
• Watch out for ant bites and stings abroad. On holiday, look out for other aggressive ant species such as the 'red imported fire ant' (Solenopsis invicta). It's native to South America but now found in parts of mainland Europe including Italy.
• Don't worry about flying ants. Natalie Bungay of the British Pest Control Association says: 'Ants in flight will find it difficult to bite or sting and their main focus is on reproduction.' 

How to get rid of ants in your garden and home – from whether you should use bait stations to identifying different types of ant, our guide can help

Bedbug bite

The British Pest Control Association says bedbugs are parasites 'with a knack for travel' because they spread from one country to another by attaching themselves to anything from cases and clothes to second-hand furniture before finding new humans to feast on.

Adult bedbugs are up to 7mm long and range from brown through to dark red if they've recently gorged on human blood, while juveniles are pale, translucent and very small.

How to identify and treat a bedbug bite

A multitude of itchy, red bites or lumps in a trail or zigzag on areas that are exposed while sleeping can indicate there may be bedbugs about. You might wake up and find bites on the face, neck and arms.

Other clues of a bedbug infestation small, brown spots on your bedding from where they've pooed as well as little blood smears from where they've bitten you.

Although they can cause painful swelling in some people, they usually clear up on their own within a week or so. A severe allergic reaction to them is rare.

How to avoid bedbug bites

• Keep your home clean and tidy. Bedbugs aren't more likely in dirty spaces but keeping on top of tidying will give you a greater chance of spotting an infestation before it's out of control. Vacuuming won't be enough to deal with bedbugs.
• Use heat to blitz bugs. Temperatures higher than 45°C for at least 30 minutes has been shown to be effective at getting rid of bed bugs, so put clothes and linen on a hot washing-machine cycle, tumble-dry them and treat the affected area with a steam cleaner.
• Call in a pest control expert. They'll be able to treat your home and give you guidance, including whether or not there's a need to throw your mattress away. 
• Check for bedbugs on holiday. Reports show that bedbug infestations are on the rise at UK hotels and some popular holiday destinations abroad. Find out how to check your hotel room for bedbugs and what to do if you find them – and don't forget to check suitcases for them when you get home.

How to get rid of bedbugs – here's what to do if you have them, plus tips on how to keep them at bay

Bee sting

These are particularly common during warmer weather when children spend time outside where bees are also busy gathering pollen. A sting from a bee is likely to come from a honeybee that's trying to protect itself from a threat, including being swatted or brushed away. Bumblebees rarely sting.

How to identify and treat a bee sting

A bee sting punctures the skin with a barbed stinger and pumps venom in from a venom sac, causing a sharp, burning pain at the sting site, accompanied by a raised welt and subsequent swelling. 

Remove both stinger and sac as quickly as possible by flicking the stinger and sac upwards with something blunt-edged like a fingernail or credit card, then tackle swelling and pain symptoms with an ice pack and Calpol.

Most people experience pain, discomfort and redness, followed by some swelling that should subside in a few hours or after a few days. If there's a severe allergic (anaphylactic) reaction, usually within 30 minutes of being stung, call 999.

How to avoid bee stings

• Choose kids' clothing carefully. Allergy UK recommends wearing a hat plus closed shoes rather than sandals (which bees could crawl into), and avoiding brightly coloured, black or floral-patterned clothing that could attract bees.
• Discourage kids from playing near flowers. Whether the flowers are on shrubs or trees or a fragrant rose, this is where bees will be collecting nectar so it's all too easy to have an inadvertent brush with one. 
• Keep lawns free of dandelions and clover. Bee stings occur most often when people walk barefoot on grass. These plants that commonly grow in lawns also attract honeybees so keep your lawn weed-free to encourage bees to collect pollen elsewhere. 
• Don't swat bees away. Anaphylaxis UK advises moving away slowly and calmly, not panicking if it lands on you and waiting for it to fly away. 

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Caterpillar sting

Although caterpillars don't have a conventional 'sting', some have barbed hairs or spines that can break off in the skin on contact and release toxins that cause irritation.

One of the most common is the caterpillar of the Oak Processionary Moth (OPM). These dark, hairy-looking creatures can be found following each other or clustering on oak trees in late spring and early summer (mainly in London and the south east).

Less severe allergic reactions can occur with other hairy caterpillars including the brown-tail hair moth caterpillars, which are more commonly found in hedgerows such as hawthorn and bramble. 

How to identify and treat a caterpillar sting

A caterpillar sting or rash (lepidopterism) produces symptoms including red, raised spots along with pain, itching and, in the case of the OPM, even blistering and swelling – more severe allergic reactions can occur if the hairs get into the eyes or mouth.

Gently remove the caterpillar with tweezers or a pen before rinsing the skin with running water and allowing to air dry.

Use sticky tape to pick up any remaining hairs from the skin, put affected clothing on a hot wash and take painkillers such as Calpol or ibuprofen plus oral antihistamines to relieve itching, but don't use an antihistamine cream.

How to avoid caterpillar sting

• Discourage children from playing with caterpillars. A curious child might be tempted to pick up a cute, fuzzy caterpillar so advise them to leave well alone.
• Be especially vigilant between May and July. This is when the OPM caterpillars are active, although residual hairs can potentially cause problems at other times of the year.
• Keep pets away from caterpillars. Pets, including dogs and cats, are at risk of getting caterpillar hairs in their nose. Animal charity The Blue Cross says to contact your vet for symptoms such as excessive drooling, swollen tongue or mouth, conjunctivitis and difficulty breathing or if your pet seems in discomfort. Also, don't let children stroke affected pets as the hairs could go on them, too.

How to get rid of box tree caterpillar – read our guide on how to get rid of them and protect your garden

Flea bite

Look out for small bites around ankles and legs, but you may also find them on your child's arm if they have been holding or stroking a pet.

The British Pest Control Association says the most common UK flea species is the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis), which lives on domestic cats but is happy to bite dogs and humans, too. The dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) primarily targets dogs and cats rather than humans.

How to identify and treat flea bites

Flea bites appear as small, red bumps of around 5mm in diameter and they appear in clusters of three to four or in a straight line, sometimes developing a red 'halo' or hives (raised areas of skin) around the bite.

The intense itch comes from the body releasing histamine as it mounts an immune defence against the flea's saliva – try not to scratch or it could lead to an infection. An ice pack and antihisamine may help to relieve swelling and your pharmacist may recommend a cream such as crotamiton (brand name Eurax) to relieve itching.

How to avoid flea bites

• Regularly treat pets with flea treatment and check them for fleas. Fleas are around 2mm long and reddish-brown in colour so as well as checking your pet (in particular the hind-quarters of dogs and the head and necks of cats) look for flea faeces ('flea dirt') when you comb them or on their bedding.
• Vacuum regularly. This helps to remove organic matter in bedding, carpets and furnishings that larvae like to eat. 
• Wash pet bedding regularly. Ideally the temperature should be above 50°C.

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Hornet sting

If you're stung by a hornet in the UK it's most likely a European hornet – although it may be you've encountered an Asian 'yellow-legged' hornet, which is now being frequently spotted here.

Although less aggressive than wasps, hornets will still sting you repeatedly if you threaten their nest or irritate them in some way – and when they do it is sharp and painful.

When bees sting, they leave a stinger and venom sac behind in an act that also kills them, whereas hornets and wasps have a lance-like stinger which can be used repeatedly to sting without causing themselves any injury.

How to identify and treat a hornet sting

Hornets are larger than wasps and bees and have dark brown and yellow markings rather than the black and yellow of wasps (or a black body with a bit of yellow at the end in the case of Asian hornets). 

A hornet won't leave its stinger behind but will give you a puncture wound with swelling around it that can last for a few hours. 'This is a minor allergic reaction that is not usually anything to worry about,' says Professor Anderson.

Remove the venom by brushing or scraping sideways with a credit card, plastic ruler or fingernail before washing the area with soap and water to help wash any venom away.

How to avoid hornet stings

• Stay out of their way. Hornets are not aggressive and won't be seeking you out to sting you so keep away from known nests or areas where you see them gathering.
• Get expert help with hornet nests. These should only be removed by a professional who knows what they're doing – amateur removal attempts such as burning or blocking up nests will make hornets angry and aggressive.
• Brush hornets away before they're able to sting. Allergy UK advises brushing them off the skin promptly with a quick movement before immediately leaving the area.

Horse fly bite

These large flies (genus Tabanus) use serrated mandibles to roughly saw through skin until they access the blood they need to consume before they start producing eggs.

Although they tend to feast on cows or horses, they're not averse to biting humans, and they're more likely to be doing this in hot weather.

How to identify and treat a horse fly bite

Horse fly bites produce a raised, red area of skin that can be itchy, inflamed and painful to touch, although in most cases cleaning the wound and applying antiseptic cream will help it to heal in a few days

However, in some extreme cases a bite can lead to fluid-filled blisters that become infected, so consult your pharmacist or GP to see if you need treatment such as antibiotics.

How to avoid horse fly bites

• Cover up with clothing. This can help to make things difficult for a hungry horse fly – although female horse flies have such powerful mouthparts that they may be able to bite through your clothes.
• Wear stripes or checks. Horse flies are known to be attracted to large patches of dark colour but don't like light colours and also find it difficult to land on stripes and checks because they disrupt their 'optic flow' 
• Use an insect repellent. Check product details to make sure they repel horse flies.

Mosquito bite

Mosquitos in the UK don't transmit disease but they're still capable of causing skin-irritation misery – especially in people who react to the bites.

Active from April through to October, they can often be found near slow-moving or stagnant water such as paddling pools.

How to identify and treat a mosquito bite

Symptoms of mosquito bites vary from one person to the next, but include an itchy, inflamed bump that forms a few minutes after being bitten, a painful hive-like spot that develops after 24 hours or even small blisters. Children are more likely to have a severe reaction to mosquito bites than adults.

Use a cold compress to take down swelling, take antihistamine tablets for multiple bites and an antihistamine cream for localised relief. Take a painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if the sting is causing pain.

How to avoid mosquito bites

• Use a good mosquito repellent. Our tests found that not all insect repellents offer good protection against mosquitos. 
• Avoid wearing bright colours. Both these and strong scents such as fragrance or deodorant can attract mosquitos.
• Keep skin covered up. If mosquitos are around, as well as using a repellent it's advisable to reduce exposed skin by wearing trousers, long sleeves and closed footwear.

Best mosquito repellents – find out the insect repellents that kept mosquitos at bay in our tests, including the best DEET-free and tropical options

Spider bite

While all spiders are capable of biting, only a small number of indigenous UK spiders have fangs that can pierce human skin.

These include the false widow, the yellow sac, the European Garden and the noble false widow spiders, which can be found in gardens, other outdoor areas and in homes, too. As with other insects, these spiders will only bite if they're feeling threatened.

How to identify and treat a spider bite

A spider bite in the UK is likely to cause discomfort in varying degrees, depending on the species. It may look like other bug bites such as mosquito bites, possibly with one or two fang marks.

Professor Anderson says: 'They can cause redness, pain and swelling or you might not notice them at all.'

As with many insect bites, you can reduce swelling with a cold compress and antihistamines, and manage pain and discomfort with Calpol, but speak to your pharmacist or GP if you're concerned – for example, if the bite appears to have become infected.

How to avoid spider bites

• Keep your home free of other bugs. Spiders love to devour dead flies, woodlice and other crawling insects so be sure to clean these away.

Tick bite

These small, reddish-brown, spider-like creatures don't jump or fly, but effectively climb onto humans and animals that brush past them in woodlands, gardens and parks before attaching to the skin and feeding on blood.

If someone has been bitten by a tick, it's important to monitor the area for signs of infection because some ticks carry bacterial infections such as Lyme disease that may have long-term effects.

How to identify and treat a tick bite

Tick bites aren't usually painful, but might result in a red lump developing where you've been bitten and in some cases cause swelling, itchiness, blistering or bruising.

Professor Anderson says: 'To remove a tick safely, use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool and, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible, pull upwards taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick.'

Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water and speak to your GP if  you develop symptoms including a pink rash, a temperature of 38°C or above, a round or oval-shaped rash, swollen lymph nodes and other flu-like symptoms in the days, weeks or months after the bite.

How to avoid tick bites

• Avoid long grass. Keep to footpaths when out walking so you don't have to go through overgrown grassy areas.
• Wear appropriate clothing. This includes trousers tucked into your socks and long-sleeved tops. Use insect repellent on any exposed skin, too.
• Check for ticks. Check yourself and also children's skin, especially the head, neck and scalp, and check pets, too.
• Be 'tick-aware' all year round. Although tick season is between March and October, wet weather and warmer temperatures mean they can be active at other times.

Wasp sting

A solitary wasp around an ice cream or soft drink can make people think that it's intent on stinging them. However, Allergy UK says that most people are rarely stung by wasps, and in the majority of cases they don't cause anything more than pain and discomfort.

How to identify and treat a wasp sting

You'll see a raised welt around the sting site and you might see a tiny white mark in the middle where the skin was punctured.

Although a wasp sting is pretty painful when it happens, the discomfort and swelling should go away within several hours. However, seek immediate treatment if the person who's been stung has an extreme, anaphylactic reaction.

Treatment for wasp stings is the same as for hornet stings, in other words removing the venom with something with a hard edge, washing the area to help flush venom away and taking antihistamines to reduce swelling, as well as pain relief such as Calpol if needed.

How to avoid wasp stings

• Pick up fallen fruit in your garden. Clear away fruit rotting on the ground and don't let children walk barefoot near fruit trees as they could step on a wasp.
• Get rid of food waste on a regular basis. This includes food recycling, which should also be covered in your kitchen so that wasps can't get in. 
• Discourage children from panicking around wasps. Wasps don't want to sting but they will if they feel under threat – and that can include a commotion around them or if they're being swatted away. The best policy is to keep calm and ignore the wasps if you can.
• Avoid highly fragranced products. Look for fragrance-free sunscreen and try not to use strong perfumes and scents.

Why there are more insect bites in the summer

Professor Anderson says: 'Bites and stings are more commonplace when the weather is warmer. Insects are more numerous and active, and people are out and about sharing the same environment.' 

You may also get more bites from going on a summer holiday further afield than the UK, depending on where you're going.

As well as ensuring you take insect repellent that's suitable for the type of area you're travelling to, such as a tropical country, you should also familiarise yourself with any additional vaccinations you may need before you travel.