There are a suprisingly large number of insects in the UK that can cause suffering through their stings, however if looking to rem...
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People are often amazed to learn just how many species of stinging insects there are - and summer is the time many have a painful introduction to one or more of them. There are fleas, flies, lice, mosquitoes, ticks, wasps, and bees, to name just a few familiar biters.
Some biting insects, of course, transmit diseases, but the most significant problem associated with stinging insects is the allergic reaction that some people can have. This makes it especially important to take steps to reduce insect populations in home, school and work areas.
It is estimated that more than two million people are allergic to stinging insects and that, every year, 500,000 people use hospital emergency rooms after being stung. In a typical year, between 40 and 150 people die from allergic reactions to stings. Reactions often start within a few minutes of being stung.
People sometimes confuse flies and fleas since the name of these two species sounds the same. Flies include cluster flies, fruit flies, house flies, horse and deer flies. They're all biters and all breed swiftly and in great numbers. Where a problem is noticed, steps should be taken rapidly to get the population under control.
Fleas are mostly associated with pet dogs and cats. Until confronted with fleas many pet owners are unaware of how much effort it requires to rid a home or apartment of an infestation. In addition to eliminating them from the pet, carpeted areas and upholstered furniture has to be thoroughly vacuumed.
In most cases involving a flea infestation, the services of a pest control company is a good investment, especially for moderate to heavy infestations.
Most stings in the UK are from bees, wasps and hornets. Stirring up a hornet's nest is not just an idle phrase. These are very social insects. Control involves killing the entire colony and is a job that only a professional should undertake because it requires the proper clothing and other protective gear, as well as the right pesticide to do a thorough job.
As beneficial as bees are, their sting is quite painful because they leave the stinger, a venom sack, and muscle to keep pumping the venom in the skin. A typical bee colony can have from 20,000 to 80,000 members. Calling in a professional beekeeper is the preferred method of moving a nest away from a home or other structure as this removes the problem from your doorstep, but does not affect the threatened bee population. Pest management professionals, if given the choice, would like to see bees thrive because of their essential role in pollination.
Avoiding insect stings is the best choice no matter what the species may be. We tend to forget that an insect sting can carry with it some very unpleasant consequences. That's why pest control is the first line of defense against disease.
Article provided by SDA Pest Control