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Fire Ants on the March in California

Southern California health officials are concerned about recent fire ant infestations that threaten crops and annoy humans with their stinging, annoying fire ant bites in Rialto, California.

According to an article in the Press-Enterprise, the fire ants made their way to North America in the 1930s via cargo ships, which docked in Mobile, Alabama, from South America. By 1998, the fire ants had crossed the country and made a home on the West Coast.

In speaking about the fire ants bites, Les Greenberg, a UC Riverside entomologist told the Press-Enterprise, “If you’re sensitive to the venom of stinging insects, then you have to worry about [fire ants.]”

In fact, there are a small percentage of people who are allergic to fire ant bites according to the article and may suffer from anaphylaxis, also known as anaphylactic shock.

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Bed Bugs Infestations in Columbus, Ohio, Cause Concern

In the 1950s, bedbugs were nearly eradicated from the United States according to an article from The Columbus Dispatch. But, today the bed bugs are back and biting, and health officials in Ohio are becoming concerned enough to create legislation and convene meetings to find solutions to bed bug infestations.

How bad is it in some areas? The Cincinnati Health Department received 737 bedbug complaints in 2007.

In Columbus, Ohio, health officials are split between calling this a nuisance issue and a serious health concern. After all, the bites are annoying but not lethal or harmful to your health such that Columbus Health Department spokesman Jose Rodriguez told the Dispatch, “Bedbugs are really looked upon as a nuisance issue.”

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Black Widow Spider Injures 17-Year-Old

A southern black widow spider is believed to have been the culprit behind a recent, powerful spider bite and subsequent reaction from 17-year-old, Brad Gregory from Beldin, Michigan, according to WOOD-TV.

The southern black widow is not native to Michigan and is thought to have been a stowaway in a dishwasher box sent from Mexico. Black widows do appear in the midwestern United States, but they are not the venomous southern version.

After helping his grandfather unload the dishwasher, Gregory told WOOD-TV that he smashed four black widow spiders. But, within a half-an-hour, a bite appeared and he began to vomit. After visiting the second of two hospitals - the only hospital in Michigan with the proper medicine - he was given a dose of antivenin.

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Pirate Bug Bites Make Their Presence Felt

Flower Bug, the larger cousin of the Pirate Bug Courtesy of iastate.edu

Oh, the irony!

The Peoria Journal Star is reporting that attendees of the recent Illinois Natural History Survey’s annual Insect Expo were bitten by the minute pirate bug. Joseph Spencer, an insect behaviorist, told the Journal star, “It almost felt like we were being bit by invisible bugs.”

According to the Iowa State University Department of Entomology, are the “rare cousins” of flower bugs and appear in late summer. Reactions vary with pirate bug bites resulting in swelling similar to mosquito bites, redness, no reaction.

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Bed Bugs Infestation Hits Luxury Apartment

Even the rich have problems with bed bugs infestations.

A couple in Manchester, Connecticut, recently endured bed bugs in their luxury apartment before they finally had enough and left. According to NBC 30, the management of the complex didn’t help things, either.

Summer Rodgers, the tenant, told NBC 30, “[My husband] had all these bites on him, and they wouldn’t go away, and the way they bit him was in clusters, which wasn’t the normal mosquito or black-fly bite.”

After calling a bed bugs extermination expert and enduring weeks of treatments of the apartment by the exterminator, their place was still infested so they moved out - throwing out their bed and couch in the process.

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Spider Bite Venom May Help With Impotence

It’s not all bad bug bite news here on MyBugBites.com.

From the UK’s Telegraph comes word that spider bite venom may help those afflicted with impotence for arthritis.

Prof Frank Schroeder and Prof Jerrold Meinwald of Cornell University, Ithaca, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that after studying the molecules of venom injected from spider bites of 70 spider species including the brown recluse spider.

In addition to messenger chemicals that go to the brain and nervous system, spider bite venom also carries “different proteins, including enzymes such as hyaluronidase, deoxyribonuclease, ribonuclease, alkaline phosphatase, and lipase, which help to break down tissue, among other things.”

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End of Days? Flea Bites Transmit Bubonic Plague To CT Man

To many, the bubonic plague is a disease of the middle ages responsible for the death of thousands, if not millions of people. Imagine the surprise when Connecticut doctors had the blood sample of their 18-year-old patient return from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta as testing positive for bubonic plague.

That’s exactly what happened according to reporter, Mary Ellen Godin from the Record-Journal, and flea bites in Wyoming may be at the bottom of it.

The man returned from a trip to Wyoming and entered the hospital with symptoms that were very similar to mumps such as “a large swelling on the left side of his neck in the lymph node and parotid gland, according to a report in the Jackson Hole Daily.” In addition, to putting the man on antibiotics, doctors took appropriate precautions with the staff in that the mumps are contagious.

Just before they were to release the man from the hospital as his condition had improved significantly, the test came back with the bubonic plaque result.

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Chiggers and Fire Ants Cannot Stop Hero EMTs

Hurricane Gustav may have been a destructive hurricanes, but it didn’t remove the annoying threat of chiggers and fire ants in Louisiana.

A group of emergency medical personnel from Somerset County, Pennsylvania, found out the hard way that chiggers and fire ants are “friendly” when they went to down to the Gulf Coast to help out with relief operations near Alexandria, Louisiana.

According to the Daily American, when the group arrived after a 27-hour car trip, their accomodations weren’t quite ready so they went to Wal-Mart and bought camping equipment including a tent.

After a night in the tent, the chiggers and fire ants bites were enough to let them know they were welcome.

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Wasp Sting Causes Allergic Reaction for Reporter

Wasp stings can cause allergic reactions, but it’s rare that you hear one occurring at a football stadium.

Yet, that’s exactly what happened to Canadian Television’s sports director, Shawn Churchill, who was stung on the back of the head just prior to kickoff of a football game this past weekend according to the Winnipeg Sun.

Fortunately, football players on the sideline noticed that the reporter was starting to struggle with his breathing and ran to get team doctors.

It was the first time Churchill had been stung by a wasp and he didn’t think any thing of it, at first. He told the Sun:

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Brown Recluse Spider Invades Illinois Schools

No spider bites to report, yet, in Paxton, Illinois, but a brown recluse spider was caught by staff in the local high school and the school district’s pest control personnel positively identified it as the poisonous spider.

It is the third school building in the area to have been found containing the brown recluse spider and has left local officials, parents and students wondering what they can do to prevent coming in contact with the spider.

Sticky traps left by the Terminix workers at a local elementary school successfully caught the spiders during routine pest management visits last July.

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West Nile Virus Victims from Mosquito Bites Reaches 5 in PA

Mosquitoes infected with the West Nile Virus continue to spread the potentially fatal disease as the number of victims of the disease has risen to 5 according to The Pennsylvania Department of Health.

In a September 9 press release, officials concern over the illness transmitted through mosquito bites to humans is most acute forthe elderly and “persons with compromised immune systems” who should not go outside during peak mosquito activity times such as the early morning or evening.

Secretary of Health Dr. Calvin B. Johnson said:

“The Department of Health remains concerned about the risk of West Nile virus for Pennsylvania residents, particularly people in southeastern PA. The recent spraying in the Philadelphia area was a necessary measure to reduce the threat of human illness from West Nile virus and is likely to have prevented additional cases.”

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Midge Insects Spread Blue Tongue Disease in UK

The Blue Tongue virus which the UK has tried to prevent from entering its county in the past, is back, and and now the Telegraph reports that local health officials are planning to create a “midge map” to track the midge insects which bite the animals and spread the disease.

It is hoped that by understanding where all the infected animals are that Bluetongue - fatal to animals such as cattle and sheep - can be contained.

Using light traps, the microscopic midges are capture and each species is identified. With the identification, officials hope to find patterns that can help fight bluetongue.

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Increased Dengue Cases in India Caused by Mosquitoes

In India, indifference to mosquito breeding grounds such as standing water has led to the highest number of cases of dengue in the last three years according to IBNLive.

The World Health Organization says “dengue is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses.”

With symptoms ranging from mild to high fever, there are no cures if you are infected according to the WHO (though they recommend hydration) and one of the worst afflictions associated with dengue - dengue haemorrhagic fever - can be fatal. Care by trained medical personnel in a hospital is recommended for those afflicted by mosquito bites containing the disease.

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Chiggers Bites Annoy Virginians

With the summertime insect bite season still in full swing, chiggers (a.k.a. red bugs) and their chigger bites continue to annoy anyone who endures there tiny welts.

Robert Parker from the Virginia Department of Healthtold WSET in Viriginia, “There’s a misconception about it. The welts themselves are not places where eggs have been laid.” In fact, in Missouri, the local department of Conservation outlines the true cause - the saliva of the chigger contains a powerful enzyme which begins the process of the itch that chigger bites sufferers have to endure.

Back in Virginia, in another department of state government - Forestry, Chris Thomsen tells WSET that he has already been bitten by chiggers and has forced him to take special precautions when working in the field. Prior to each expedition, Thomsen makes sure he completely sprays down his body to prevent chigger bites around the belt line, ankles, armpits and other sensitive areas.

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Tarantula Spider Bites UK Child in the Foot

Nothing like a good trip to the islands - except when you bring back unwanted cargo.

The Argus reports that a UK child who had returned from a trip to Cyprus with her family and unknowingly had a tarantula spider stowaway who made the child’s boot into her home (the spider was a female European tarantula).

The dark cavern of the shoe evidently provided a cozy spot and when the unsuspecting child decided to wear her boots again - ouch!

The tarantula spider bite was evidently not fatal or serious and, fearing more spider bites from the arachnid offender, the child’s mom immediately leapt into action and trapped the tarantula in the boot until animal control officers could arrive.

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Insect Bites and Hurricanes Are Deadly Combination in FL

The hurricane season is in full gear as Hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike have swirled or are swirling and affecting U.S. residents - and insects such as mosquitos and red ants, a.k.a. fire ants.

The torrential rains which accompany hurricanes present challenges to local officials who have to cope with the rising waters and its effects. According to the Voice in Florida, the town of Geneva has been inundated with water and affected Lake Harney.

Unfortunately, rising waters can create opportunities for increased insect bites as insects look for higher ground on which to survive and naturally move towards human populations.

For an elderly, Chuluota man, this was catastrophic as red ants swarmed into his home looking for dry earth. The red ant bites the man endured proved to be fatal and now many in the area are concerned about insect bites from numerous areas of standing water.

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Honey Bee Stings and Neighbor Complaints in Canada

It’s been two years since Saskatoon residents Wasyl and Emily Isak started their honeybee hobby according to the StarPhoenix. They enjoy making honey with the help of the honeybees and even share with their neighbors. But, some neighbors have had enough.

Hank Drexler and Audrey Ivanauskas sent a letter to the city of Saskatoon regarding the backyard apiary. Though honeybees are not considered aggressive, honey bees can still deliver a sting - at the cost of their life. When a honeybee stings, it dies. The bee sting is cited as a potential threat in the letter especially to those who might have a bee sting allergy.

The beekeepers claim that this is the first time they have ever heard anyone complain and other neighbors in the area say that they do not find the bees annoying nor has there been any reported bee stings as a result of the area beehive. Incidentally, not all bees are created equal. According to Wikipedia, there are over 20,000 species of bees and honey bees represent a tiny fraction.

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Tarantula Hawk Wasp Appears in Yucaipa, CA

In Yucaipa, California, local resident Tim O’Connor saw something big land on a fig leaf reports the Yucaipa News Mirror.

It was not just any insect or bird, but a two inch black wasp with big antennae which his wife researched and found to be the tarantula hawk wasp. According to Wikipedia, its sting is one of the most painful in the world.

As one might guess, the wasp’s victims are female tarantulas which are plentiful in certain areas of California. Gruesomely, the wasp doesn’t kill the tarantula but paralyzes it with its wasp sting.

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Bedbug Infestation for Jacksonville Family

The Byrd family from Jacksonville, Florida, is covered in bed bug bites and they can’t take it anymore.

Local station WJXT reports that the family of four has already thrown out of their apartment the two twin mattresses formerly used by the children and the queen-sized mattress and box spring for the adults in hopes of ridding themselves of the bloodsucking, bed bugs infestation.

They now sleep on a plastic toddler bed and inflatable mattress, respectively.

And now, the Byrds are leaving their apartment. As often is the case, the apartment manager disputes the bed bugs infestation by saying that the family brought the bed bugs with them. Consequently, the landlord’s refusing to return the $1,000 deposit as the family is breaking their lease.

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Afghan Spider Bite Takes Family Dog

The bite of Afghan Spider has killed a family dog in the United Kingdom, CNN is reporting.

Not considered dangerous to humans, the Afghan Spider can be deadly to small animals. The spider is believed to have been a “stowaway” in the baggage of the male head of household after his tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The family is refusing to move back into the home until the spider is found and destroyed due to fears of another spider bite.

The dog and spider evidently had an encounter just prior to the dog’s demise that involved the spider “hissing” at the dog. That’s right.. “hissing.” These are not your normal poisonous spiders.

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Mosquito Bite Infection Concerns Intensify

Some mothers in Massachusetts are raising concerns that mosquito bites on their children may be lead to serious infection if not treated by doctors expeditiously. At the same time, the Department of Health is warning about increased infection of area mosquitoes and birds.

In the Gloucester Daily Times, a local mom, Jennifer Strangman, says that she recently saw a mysterious-looking mosquito bite on her child in July. Rather than the usual bump, it looked like a red bullseye and her child had a low temperature. She immediately took her child to the doctor for succesful treatment of what was the first of two mosquito-related infections. It’s not clear if the bite caused the infections or if it was the break in the skin and bacteria entering through the opening.

Nevertheless, she doesn’t hesitate to take any of her children to the doctor considering the possibility of serious infection from West Nile Virus (WNV) or Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) brought on by mosquito bites.

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When Chiggers Bite: Itch, Itch and More Itch

Courtesy of Missouri Dept. of Conservation

The MyBugBites.com staff is seeing more and more stories about chiggers, their bites and their excruciating itch.

In South Carolina, Bryce Donovan of the Post and Courier details his encounters with chiggers and says that if you haven’t experienced chiggers, well, he hates you… because he wish he’d never experienced them either.

Chiggers are actually very tiny creatures even if they look huge and scary in this magnified pictured and measure 1/150th of an inch in diameter in real life - nearly invisible. Also, chiggers aren’t bugs or insects in the strict sense of the words all - they’re mites according to MDConline.com.

“Chiggers are the juvenile (or larval) form of a specific family of mites, the Trombiculidae. Mites are arachnids, like spider and scorpions, and are closely related to ticks.”

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Food and Bee Sting Allergies Seminar in Lancaster

courtesy of Wikipedia

Lancaster, Pennsylvania community members are taking a proactive step in protecting the area’s children by offering a seminar on bee sting and food allergies.

Local newspaper Erie Times News reports on local children who make a good case study on why being vigilant about what kids are allergic to is important.

Alex Blatt, 11, has an allergy to peanuts and always carries an EpiPen with him to prevent any extreme reactions if a peanut or its extract finds its way into his system. An untreated allergic reaction can result in him going into anaphylactic shock, a potentially fatal condition.

Bee stings can also be something that causes an allergic reaction.

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West Nile Virus Continues to Spread Across U.S.

Throughout the United States, reports of the presence of West Nile Virus continue to pile up - and now there are reports of humans being infected by the virus. Infected birds have been found in Michigan, infected mosquitoes in Arizona, and crows are carrying the disease in Pennsylvania.

Humans are being infected from mosquitoes carrying the disease

A 20-year-old man in the San Diego area has been diagnosed with the virus according to the San Diego Union Tribune. The man had been suffering from meningitis and is now recovering at home. This is the 10th case of West Nile Virus in the local county this year. (15 people contracted the virus in 2007.) Over 78 cases have been reported in the state of California with virus samples testing positive at record levels.

Susanne Kluh, scientific and technical services director for the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, told Xinhua News that there are likely many more cases than are being reported:

Roughly 80 percent of West Nile virus human infection cases show no symptoms of the disease, while about 20 percent show mild symptoms that may include fever, headache, body aches, nausea and vomiting — things that are sometimes chalked up as a simple “summer fever,” Kluh said.

With no known treatment, the Centers for Disease Control recommends hospitalization when necessary so nursing care, intravenous fluids and maintenance of any secondary infections can be applied. Several trials are currently underway for a West Nile Virus (WNV) cure, but no publicly-available “magic pill” is ready to go to market.

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Bed Bugs Bite Fox News

courtesy of Gawker

For nearly a year, Fox News in New York City has been under attack from, of all things, bed bugs.

“Fair and balanced” is now, “fair, balanced and infested.”

Apparently, a bed bug infestation at an employee’s home allowed a few of the blood sucking bed bugs to attach themselves to their unknowing host and then spread the bed bug problem throughout the office.

How bad is it? It’s so bad employees have begun to sue Fox News for the bites they have suffered and the mental anguish.

At this point, there is discussion about who the Fox employee might be with the infestation. More than 20 employee homes were visited before the offending home was identified. For some in the media, bedbugs at Fox News will be a “fun” topic. But, for those affected, not so much.

What can you do to help prevent bed bug bites?

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Cicada Killer Wasps in Texas

photo courtesy Ohio State University

At an inch and a half long, cicada killer wasps are frightening to see, but are they really harmful to humans?

An article in the Galveston County Daily News says that even though it may seem cicada killer wasps would have a powerful sting and are to be feared, in fact, they are beneficial to humans by controlling the population of cicadas which are the food required by young wasps.

Dr. William Johnson states that the male wasp actually has no ability to sting and the female wasp has rarely been known to use its powerful stinger on humans. The only reason it may sting is to kill cicadas so that its young can feast.

Cicadas are not only noisy but can do small amounts of damage to a tree on which they lay their eggs. The cicada killer wasp lives in these areas, too - better to be closer to the food.

“Unlike hornets, yellow jackets and paper wasps, which are social insects living in large colonies, cicada killers are considered solitary wasps. However, several individuals are often found within a small area, giving the impression that there is a single nest.”

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Hobo Spider Bite Makes Hole in Victim’s Leg

courtesy of Wikipedia

In Manitoba, Canada, the Globe and Daily Mail reports that a local woman is the victim of a rare spider bite from a hobo spider.

The hobo spider is generally thought to have reached North America in the early 20th Century via steam ships and is believed to live in the grass.

What makes this spider bite particularly unusual is two-fold.

First, the spider is not known to be a native spider in Manitoba but does reside in certain areas of Western Canada. Nothing like an unwelcome resident!

Second, the spider’s venom is particularly gruesome and once the venom enters, it instantly kills the tissue in and around the spider bite - creating black, dead skin - in this case a hole in the woman’s leg.

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Brooklyn Has Bed Bugs

courtesy of Wikipedia

Brooklyn, New York, is yet another hot bed for bed bugs (no pun intended). According to the local paper, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, since 2004, complaints about bed bug infestations have increased over 1900 percent.

No explanation is given other than the bed bugs continue to be a problem globally, not just in certain locales. If mattresses discarded on the sidewalk is any indication, Brooklynites have a mighty big bug bite problem on their hands.

Richard Cooper, a purported bed bug experts and co-author of “The Bed Bug Handbook: The Complete Guide to Bed Bugs and Their Control” says that something needs to be done at the federal level if the bed bug bite problem is ever going to be brought under control. The Orkin man isn’t going to cut it.

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