Don’t let mosquitoes, bees and ants spoil your outdoor fun.
Here’s how to arm yourself with the knowledge to handle whatever nature throws your way.
Protect yourself
Female mosquitoes need to suck blood to produce their eggs.1
Some species can drink their entire bodyweight in one sitting!2
Keep them at bay with an insect repellent spray or roll-on (which will also deter leeches and sandflies) and refillable wristbands that contain essential oils insects hate such as geranium, rosemary and clove.
If you do get bitten, your local Blooms The Chemist Pharmacist can recommend a range of antiseptic gels and creams that soothes the affected area and reduce itching.
There's roughly a 500% increase in mosquito activity during a full moon1, so if you're going out stargazing, don't forget to bring along the insect repellent.
Bee prepared for anything
Getting stung by a wasp or bee can be painful so it’s often a good idea to keep your distance.
Unlike bees, wasps can sting multiple times and even release a pheromone that triggers other wasps to join the onslaught.2
The best way to get them to buzz off is to remain calm because sudden movements can provoke them.
The pain from a sting usually only lasts a few minutes and topical sprays will ease the swelling and irritation.
Washing the area with soap and water and applying a cold compress can also help. Anyone allergic to bee stings should carry an EpiPen.
Don't forget about the ants
Nothing ruins a family picnic like an invasion of ants, especially if the hungry colony decides that ham sandwiches and fresh fruit aren’t enough and wants to take a bite out of one of us.
Ant bites can hurt and cause redness and swelling, so wash the affected area and gently press some ice or frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel onto the bite.
An antihistamine tablet will also help to ease the itching.
Fire ant stings can be extremely painful and can lead to blisters. In some cases, multiple insects can attack at once.
Most people won’t need medical treatment unless they have a known allergy.2
Once any affected areas have been washed, keep the blisters intact to avoid infection.
Ticked off
Parasitic tick bites can be harmless, unless they cause an allergic reaction.
You can easily remove a tick with freeze spray, but avoid pulling the tick off your skin as it’ll inject more toxin!
Stock up on the essentials
Cuts, bites and stings can happen anywhere so it’s a great idea to keep a first aid kit handy in the car for minor emergencies.
To find out about our range of kits, visit your nearest Blooms The Chemist or explore our range below.
References:
1ScienceDirect, Chapter Nineteen - Pheromones in Social Wasps, accessed 20 March 2025
2National Fire Ant Eradication Program, Fire ant first aid, accessed 20 March 2025