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BACKPACKING ARTICLES
When going outdoors, it is wise to remember that we are entering insect territory. It is really not up to us, so don?t feel offended if insects start biting or stinging. It?s nothing personal. They really are just looking out for themselves.
The first thing you should do when venturing for a walk outdoors is to put on an insect-repellant. These chemicals render you ?invisible? to an insect.
Also, do not wear perfume or brightly colored clothes. These are very attractive to our bug friends.
Spiders. Some of the most poisonous spiders are black widows. They are easily recognizable because of their hourglass-shaped bodies with orange, red or white spots on the abdomen. Bites can cause severe pain, weakness, shivering and sweating that can last several days.
An arachnid to watch out for is the fiddleback spider, so called because of a light spot that resembles a violin on its back. It is also known as the brown recluse because it prefers dark places. Its bite can cause tissue degeneration around the site.
Other spiders to avoid are the funnelwebs and the tarantulas. A tarantula can deliver a painful bite that can cause bleeding which could lead to infection.
A spider bite is rarely fatal, except when a person is allergic to the particular toxin in its venom.
Scorpions. Most scorpions are nocturnal and they are either brown or black. To adapt to the desert, they have light green or yellow coloring. They can grow to an average of 2.5cm and some Central America giants are about 20cm. They cause a very painful sting with their jointed tails and are not to be confused with whip scorpions and vinegar roons, which have straight tails like a whip.
Bees and Wasps. Bees are easily recognizable because of their plump, hairy bodies while wasps and hornets are hairless and slender. Some bees live in colonies, while others build their homes in the ground or in wood. When a bee attacks, it leaves its stinger stuck to your skin, along with the venom sac. Wasps and hornets attack repeatedly with smooth stingers.
Ticks. Ticks like blood and can spread Lyme disease, encephalitis, Rocky Mountain fever and other dangerous diseases. However, in order for these diseases to be transmitted, the tick will need at least six hours attached to your skin. That leaves ample time to inspect your body and get rid of it.
The best defense against insects is avoidance. Most of them act out of self-preservation and not because they mean any harm. So try to remain as far away from them as possible. They are not creatures to socialize with.
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