Things that bite

Story by AB Bishop

Insects are ecologically important, but some can cause us harm, so it pays to be aware of their presence in the garden.

Summertime is prime time for enjoying the fruits (and vegies) of our gardening labour. Barbecues are in full swing, picnic blankets adorn the lawn, and people and pets just want to be outside. So far, so good! Unfortunately, this is also when insects are most active and stings and bites are common. For such little critters, they can pack a painful punch, and can also potentially cause serious illness. Here’s the lowdown on six common culprits, their ecological significance, and what to do if you are stung or bitten.

Mozzies

Mosquitoes are adept pollinators. The males only eat nectar and the females eat nectar and blood. They’re a food source too: microbats and dragonflies eat the winged adults and water-dwellers eat the larvae. In addition to their annoying buzzing and itchy bites, mosquitoes can transmit diseases, including Japanese encephalitis, Ross River virus and dengue fever.

Identification
Mozzies range in size from 4–6mm, while crane flies look like giant mosquitoes (up to 60mm) but don’t bite, sting or suck blood.

Prevention
Wear loose, light-coloured clothing, and insect repellent. Clean birdbaths, plant pot saucers and other receptacles regularly.

Spiders

White-tailed, redback, Australian funnel-web
Spiders do far more good than harm! They eat other spiders, snails and other critters. They’re prey for small mammals, reptiles and birds (which also use spider silk for nests). These three are common,
but won’t go out of their way to bite us. There are 36 Australian funnel-web species, which are found along the east coast from Tasmania to northern Queensland. Redbacks and white-tails are found Australia-wide.

Identification

Six species of funnel-web (bottom, left) can harm humans. They range from 10–50mm long, have a shiny black body and hairy legs.
The female redback spider (centre) is 10mm in length, with long, skinny legs and a bulbous black abdomen with a distinctive red or orange stripe.
White-tails (right) grow up to 18mm, and have a black or grey body with a white tip.

Prevention
Wear gloves and shoes when gardening. Shake out shoes left outside. Female redbacks usually stay in their webs, in sheds and disused pots. White-tails will come inside – keep clothes off the floor!

European wasps

These aggressive insects sting repeatedly. Attracted to fruit, soft drinks and meat, they’ll gatecrash any outdoor gathering. They play a role in insect control, but this doesn’t tip the scales in their favour!

Identification
European wasps are black and yellow, and look similar to some native wasps. Identify them by their black antennae, their legs held close to their body when flying, and their scavenging on human and pet food.

Prevention
Get away calmly then call a pest controller or destroy the nest with a registered wasp insecticide. In Western Australia, report sightings to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

Honey bees

Honey bees are beloved for their pollination and honey-making prowess, but their stings aren’t appreciated!

Identification
Honey bees have a dark-brown thorax (the middle body section) and an amber abdomen with black stripes. Stingers are located at their tail end.

Prevention
Be careful when walking barefoot on grass. Move calmly if a bee is near.

Ants

Bull, fire, jack jumper
Ants are soil aerators, seed dispersers, predators and decomposers. They’re eaten by echidnas and the thorny devil, a native lizard. Their venomous sting is ridiculously painful for such small critters. Fire ants are one of Australia’s most destructive invasive species.

Identification
Bull ants are 8–40mm in length, with a reddish-brown body and large eyes. Jack jumpers are 12–16mm with a black body and reddish-brown legs, or a black and brown body. Their jaw-like mandibles are yellow-orange. Fire ants are 3–6mm, with a coppery body and dark brown abdomen.

Photo credit: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Prevention
Check the ground for nests. Report the presence of fire ants to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.

Ticks

There are 75 Australian tick species. Most are bird and reptile fodder, but there are three common species that can cause illness in people and pets: the bush tick, brown dog tick and the potentially fatal paralysis tick (above, found on the east coast and in northern Tasmania).

Identification
The adult paralysis tick is grey-blue, and up to 10mm in length when engorged. Brown dog and bush ticks are reddish-brown.

Prevention
Check your body (and pets) regularly when you’re outside. Wear long, loose clothing when pruning or cleaning up outdoors.

First aid
– Seek medical attention if an allergic reaction is suspected.
– Call 000 for funnel-web bites and bandage the wound firmly.
– Seek medical attention if the victim of a redback spider bite is pregnant, or is a child.

For other bites and stings
– Wash with soap and water. Pat dry.
– Apply an icepack for 10 minutes.
– Apply an antiseptic cream, and take pain medication if required.
– To remove a tick apply a tick freeze spray (available from chemists). Note: People with an allergy to ticks should be treated by emergency services as soon as possible.
– Treat mosquito bites with an antiseptic product, a paste made from bicarb soda and water, or juice from the pigface plant.
– Remove bee stingers quickly by scraping sideways with a fingernail or by pulling them out. Wash the wound and apply an icepack.

Header image by iStock