Once bitten, twice shy

With biting and stinging insects on the rise in Britain as the climate changes, Matt Nixson hears from experts on how to deal with pests without relying on heavy-duty chemicals

- Matt Nixson

There was a time when the risk of being bitten or stung was, unless you were unlucky, only something we had to worry about if we were heading abroad. How things change.

In recent years, milder winters, hotter summers and increased rainfall have driven a boom in biting and stinging insects. The truth is, we now face a growing threat at home.

Ticks, now known to carry bacteria linked to Lyme disease, have become a particular concern, prompting the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), formerly Public Health England, to launch a national Surveillance Scheme.

Mosquitos, stinging flies and hornets have become, if not entirely commonplace, then certainly not rare.

And experts warn their prevalence is likely to worsen if climate change continues to drive warmer, wetter summers and milder winters here.

Dr Tim Bond, adviser to Puressentiel, says: "It's easy to assume that serious risks from insect bites and stings only exist abroad in exotic countries, but that's far from the truth. Here in the UK, the danger is very real and, in some cases, even life-threatening.

"Thanks to climate change, stinging and biting insects now have a longer season to thrive which means the risk of insect-borne illnesses are more likely."

With the change in temperatures, some insects that were previously only active in warmer months are now being seen as early as spring and well into autumn. As their habitats expand and activity increases, so does the threat to human health.

Dr Bond says: "Ticks are a particular concern. Ticks feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans. These tiny, spider-like parasites are being tracked through the UKHSA's Tick Surveillance Scheme, which monitors their spread and activity across the country.