Australian insects: biters guide

Biters

Biters use their mouths to suck blood. They can infect you with diseases.

Stingers

Stingers inject you with venom, which can trigger an allergic reaction.

Dial triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance if you suspect that either you or someone else is having a severe allergic reaction.

Mosquitoes

Mosquito before feeding - close up photo of an adult mosquito on a white background.

Mosquito after feeding - photo showing same mosquito after feeding. Its colour has darkened and its abdomen is enlarged with blood.

Key facts:

• Diseases can be passed on to people through mosquito bites.
• You can protect yourself against mosquitoes biting you.

Mosquito-borne diseases acquired in Australia:

• Ross River virus
• Dengue
• Barmah Forest virus
• Murray Valley encephalitis

Mosquito bite prevention DOs and DON’Ts:

• Do use repellents outdoors and insecticides indoors
• Do screen windows, doorways and tents, if camping
• Do wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts
• Don't create mosquito breeding opportunities at home (standing water)
• Don't go to wetlands at dawn or dusk
• Don't think you don’t attract mosquitoes

Symptoms and treatment

Type of reaction:

Local reaction - illustration showing hand and forearm. There is a small red mark on the forearm, illustrating a painful red insect bite.

Key fact: Most people will have a local reaction after being stung or bitten.

Severe allergic reaction – illustration showing a person with light brown hair wearing a red tee shirt. They are in pain, feverish and sweating.

Key fact: People at risk are advised to have a personal action plan to manage a severe allergic reaction.

Symptoms

Local reaction:

• Burning pain
• Skin swelling
• Redness
• Itching

Have you been bitten or stung? healthdirect’s Symptom Checker can help you decide what to do next healthdirect.gov.au/symptom-checker

Severe allergic reaction:

• Flushing
• Collapsing
• Coughing or wheezing
• Difficulty breathing, talking or swallowing
• Stomach cramps
• Swelling of the mouth, throat or tongue
• Itching around the eyes, ears, lips, throat or mouth
• A rash that may appear anywhere on the body

Treatments

Local reaction:

• Clean stung area
• Apply ice pack
• Take a painkiller
• Antihistamine tablets

Severe allergic reaction:

• Call triple zero (000)
• Personal action plan
• Administer adrenaline via an autoinjector