June 14th, 2018 by Chris Chapman

Summertime is the best time of year to be outside and loving life. Unfortunately, this statement applies to insects as well as people! While most of the insects here in the UK are harmless, there are a few that you may come across in the summer that can be really nasty if you end up bitten or stung by them! We’ve put together a list of the 5 most unpleasant summer critters that live in the UK, along with how you can identify them and how you can get rid of them!

Hornets

Hornets are larger than wasps, and have a little more orange on them Poking the hornet’s nest is always a bad idea, metaphorically and literally! Hornets are similar to common wasps, only they’re much larger and much more aggressive. Their sting has been rated the most painful in the UK by pain experts as their stinger contains powerful neurotoxins. The pain has been described as similar to having a body part repeatedly slammed in a car door, so that’s a big enough reason to stay well away from hornets!

Where Do Hornets Live?

Much like common wasps, hornets usually live in woodland and parks, and sometimes in gardens. They’re more common in the south of England but can be found anywhere in the UK.

How to Identify Hornets

Hornets look like larger wasps. Hornets also usually have a red or orange colouring alongside their yellow and black tails.

How to Avoid Hornet Stings

If you're this close to a hornet, you're doing it wrong! Stay away from them and if you suspect you might be near a hornet’s nest, don’t tempt them with sugary food! Keep your gardens and bin areas clear of exposed food waste, and if you’ve got any bird hides, make sure you clear any old or rotting food out of them as they make ideal nesting places for hornets. Cover yourself in insect repellent and the hornets shouldn’t come near you. If you come across a hornet’s nest, call a professional to have it removed as soon as possible.

What to Do if You’re Stung by a Hornet

First things first, get far away from the hornet, especially if you’re near a nest. Hornets can and will sting you multiple times if they feel like it. Clean the area with some vinegar – the acid in the vinegar will neutralise the alkaline in the hornet sting – and ice it to reduce swelling. Take an antihistamine if necessary to help with the swelling and keep the area clean for a few days after to be on the safe side.

Flower Bugs

Flower bugs are recognisable for their blotchy "burnt"-looking wings. Photo: Bj. schoenmakers They have a cute name, but if you’re bitten by one, a flower bug will be anything but cute! Flower bugs normally prey on aphids and mites, but they’re not picky and are very aggressive. They’ll gladly take a bite out of your arm if they get the chance, causing a painful and itchy wound that’s slow to heal.

Where Do Flower Bugs Live?

As the name suggests, flower bugs live on flowers and plants where they have a constant source of aphids and other prey. They are extremely common across all parts of the UK.

How to Identify Flower Bugs

Flower bugs have black heads, orange legs and antennae, and clear wings with brown blotches on them. They’re quite small; about 3-4mm when fully grown.

How to Avoid Flower Bug Bites

Where you have aphids, you probably have flower bugs too, so be on the lookout It’s not advised to use insecticides on them as flower bugs are natural predators of aphids and other pests, so they could actually help your garden. To avoid bites, keep yourself covered up when you’re tending to flowers or plants.

What to Do if You’re Bitten by a Flower Bug

Flower bug bites aren’t really dangerous, although they are itchy and painful. Keep the affected area clean and let the wound heal naturally and you should be fine – apply some soothing anti-itching cream if necessary.

False Widows

Not all species of false widow are venomous, only this one: the noble false widow. Photo: Lmbuga Best known as the UK’s most venomous spider, the false widow has become notorious in the British media. Fortunately, they are like most spiders in that they aren’t naturally aggressive towards humans and they’ll only ever bite in self-defence. Despite what you might have heard, they aren’t venomous enough to kill you, although their bites are extremely painful and can become infected if you don’t treat them properly.

Where Do False Widows Live?

Like most spiders, they’ll usually live outdoors for most of the summer, but towards the end of summertime, they’ll start to make their way indoors. False widows are more common in the south of England, although they can be found occasionally throughout England and Wales.

How to Identify False Widows

False widows won't bother you if you don't bother them There are actually many species of false widows, but the infamous species with the venomous bites is the noble false widow. Look out for a spider with a glossy, bulbous abdomen. The abdomen will be black, with cream coloured markings. Part of the notoriety of the false widow comes from the fact that these markings look a bit like a skull.

How to Avoid False Widow Bites

Don’t bother them, and they won’t bother you! More injuries actually come from people freaking out over the false widow than they do from the spiders themselves, so just stay calm and don’t make the spider feel threatened and it won’t bite you even if it ends up on your body somehow. You can also use spider repellent to keep them out of your house. Use either regular spider repellent, which emits a fragrance undetectable to humans but which spiders hate, or mechanical spider repellent. Spray mechanical spider repellent onto a surface to create a sticky barrier (again, undetectable to humans – it doesn’t feel sticky to us) that spiders can’t cross. Use either of these spider repellents around doors, windows, skylights, and any possible entry to your home to keep your house spider-free!

What to Do if You’re Bitten by a False Widow

Stay calm – there’s no need to rush to a doctor just yet. A false widow bite should clear up fine if you keep the area clean. Wash the bite with soap and warm water and apply some antiseptic cream to stave off potential infection. Keep doing this periodically and you should be ok, although if the area swells dramatically or becomes much more painful, you should seek medical attention.

Blandford Flies

Blandford fly bites can cause severe blisters, joint pain, and fevers Despite their pedestrian name, Blandford flies are one of the most troublesome pests in the UK. A bloodsucking species of fly that has a particular taste for human legs and ankles, Blandford fly bites can cause joint pain, feverish symptoms, and severe blisters.

Where Do Blandford Flies Live?

Although they take their name from the Dorset village that they once ravaged in the 70s, Blandford flies have now spread out much further across the south of England and have now made their way up as far as the Midlands. Blandford flies live near bodies of water, so be extra careful if you’re out near lakes or rivers. They tend to hover down close to the ground, hence most bites are around the ankle region.

How to Identify Blandford Flies

If you’re near a body of water, keep your eye out for clusters of flies buzzing close to the ground. Other than this, they’re quite hard to distinguish from regular flies and horseflies.

How to Avoid Blandford Fly Bites

Unlike most bloodsucking insects, Blandford flies use their mouthparts to actually cut open skin to drink blood It might not be what you want to hear in summer but try and keep your legs covered if you’re near lakes and rivers. It’s also wise to cover yourself in some insect repellent, especially across your legs. Generally, they won’t stray too far from their natural habitat of lakes and other bodies of water, so as long as you stay close to dry land you should be fine.

What to Do if You’re Bitten by a Blandford Fly

Clean the area right away and keep it clean and dry for a few days. Apply some antiseptic cream to help soothe it, but under no circumstances should you scratch the bite as they can get infected very easily! Keep the affected area elevated and rest for a few days to ease joint pain. Keep any blisters covered with clean, dry dressing and you should be fine.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are recognisable for their "hunchback" bodies Mosquitoes don’t really compare with the other pests on this list at first glance. Their bloodsucking bites aren’t painful and only cause a mild itching. They don’t carry harmful viruses in this country, either. So why are they such a problem? Well, new research has shown that mosquitoes actually inject you with a small amount of saliva when they bite you. This saliva stops your blood from clotting so they can drink it. However, what we now know is that the mosquito saliva stays in your bloodstream for up to a week after the bite and weakens your immune system! This affects your blood, circulatory system, and even your bone marrow, so not only are you more likely to catch a virus, but the virus’ effects on you will be much more severe.

Where Do Mosquitoes Live?

Everywhere! They’re normally most active from spring until autumn but can survive in your home all year round. They’re resilient and can live anywhere in any part of the country.

How to Identify Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are often confused with midges or crane flies, neither of which actually bite! It’s hard to identify a mosquito as they’re small and fast. Mosquitoes have relatively long wings that are longer than the length of their body, and a hunchback-like appearance.

How to Avoid Mosquito Bites

Midges and crane flies don't actually bite like mosquitoes do If someone ever discovers a foolproof way to completely avoid mosquitoes, they’ll be a millionaire! As they’re so common, it’s best to stock up on insect repellent and cover yourself in it on hot days. You can also use some bug spray to get rid of any mosquitoes that might be buzzing around you. If you live in an area that’s plagued by mosquitoes, a door chain is a wise investment for the summer months as it’ll help keep them out of the house.

What to Do if You’re Bitten by a Mosquito

Mosquitoes are surprisingly bad at aiming, so chances are they’ll bite you multiple times before they find a vein. Keep any bites clean and try not to scratch them as mosquito saliva makes you much more vulnerable to infections. Apply some antiseptic cream if the itching is really bad.