Insect bites

Individually, there are a number of things you can do to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and black flies: Wear suitable clothing. Dark colours tend to attract the insects so, choose light-coloured, loose-fitting garments tucked into your clothing and boots to prevent the smaller insects from crawling underneath.

Get tips to avoiding bees, wasps, and hornets and prevent stings and bites.

Anyone who enjoys deep woods camping and hiking should do their best to avoid the deer tick (also called blacklegged tick), which carries Lyme disease.

Bites and stings are easily preventable if you plan ahead before going outdoors. Here's a list of the do's and don'ts to keep you safe from biting or stinging insects.

Almost everyone has been stung or bitten by an insect at one time or another. Besides being annoying pests, some insects can carry dangerous diseases such as malaria and yellow fever in certain parts of the world. Others, such as honeybees, can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis in those sensitive to their venom.

Mosquito bites Symptoms of a mosquito bite are usually mild and transient. Use a topical anesthetic or lotion to relieve the immediate discomfort and, if local irritation occurs, topical steroids can be applied to the skin to reduce the itching, redness and swelling. Oral antihistamines can also be effective in reducing the symptoms of mosquito bites.

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria known as the B. burgdoferi and is carried in the gut of certain ticks that feed off mice or deer. When the tick carrying Lyme disease finds a human being and feeds, its stomach contents go into the person's bloodstream and cause a skin rash starting at the point where the tick attaches itself.

Bedbugs are tiny pests whose bites can create a big itch. Find out what attracts them and how to fight them off.