With warm weather comes the risk of insect stings. If you or your child suffers from severe allergic reactions from insect stings or bites, learn how to identify and avoid these buzzing and crawling risks.

Most severe allergic reactions are by the following insects:

Honeybees are fuzzy and dark brown with yellow markings. Honeybees are generally nonaggressive. Wild honeybees may build hives in hollow trees, the eaves of houses, old tires, underground, or other protected outdoor areas.

Paper wasps have narrow bodies that are black, brown, or red with yellow markings. Their circular, papery nests are often located under house eaves or on porches, sheds, bushes, or woodpiles.

Yellow jackets look like large wasps with black and yellow markings. They usually build their papery-looking nests underground, but may also nest in trees, porches, woodpiles, or other protected outdoor areas.

Hornets are larger than wasps or honeybees. They have black or brown bodies with white, orange, or yellow markings. Hornets build round, papery nests that usually hang high above the ground in tree branches.

Fire ants are not actually ants, but are more closely related to bees. Fire ants nest in the soil, often near moist areas, such as river banks, pond edges, watered lawns, and highway edges.

Tips for avoiding stinging insects:

• During outside activities, always wear closed-toe shoes and avoid wearing bright colors or sweet-smelling scents, which may attract bees and wasps.
• Keep food covered until it is eaten.
• Be especially careful to avoid drinking sodas and juices out of cans, as bees may crawl into cans to reach the sugary liquids inside.
• Remember to carry your Twinject with you at all times.

For more information about insect allergies, visit insectallergy.upmc.com.