Allergic responses to biting and stinging insects

Abstract

Biting and stinging insects are classified under the major division of arthropods. The arthropods consist of eighty-five per cent of the animal kingdom. Since we share so much of this earth's surface with these small creatures, it is evident that they must often affect our lives. Man may be helped by some activities or hindered by others. On the positive side, arthropods help in the pollination of plants, destroying the dead animals and plants, and help to return the organic materials to the soil. The value of bee products such as honey and wax is estimated to be as high as fifty million dollars each year in the United States. On the negative side, arthropods can cause disease and varied allergic reactions. This article will deal chiefly with the allergic responses. Most of the allergic reactions are minor annoyances, but some are serious and can result in death.