Summer is aswarm with six-legged (and eight-legged) biting critters such as mosquitoes, gnats, midges, horseflies, ants, fleas, lice and even ticks and spiders which can make life a misery. Find out how to tackle bites and stings.

Bite protection
Your first port of call should be to reach for the insect repellent - sprays, roll-ons or gels. You can even get products that combine sun-screen with insect repellent in one for double protection.

Cover all exposed skin with long trousers and long sleeves, especially from dusk onwards when most biting insects become more active. Spray a repellent inside openings of clothes for extra protection or wear impregnated wrist and ankle bands. If walking in long grass, always tuck trouser legs into socks and boots.

You may not know you've been attacked until you notice red, intensely itchy or painful lumps on exposed areas of flesh. As hard as it is, do try to avoid scratching as this increases release of histamine in the area and can make the reaction worse.

To reduce itching and swelling, apply an ice pack (eg bag of frozen peas wrapped in a clean cloth) for 2 - 5 minutes at a time. Then apply a soothing treatment such as Arnica cream, Pyrethrum Cream, antiseptic cream, antihistamine cream (consider tablets if seriously affected), local anaesthetic cream or an anti-inflammatory cream (eg 1% hydrocortisone) to reduce itching and discomfort.

It's worth bearing in mind that in the UK, tick bites can pass on Lyme disease. If a red rash appears around a tick bite within one to three weeks and begins to spread, consult a doctor. When travelling abroad, you also need to be aware of other diseases transmitted through biting insects such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and malaria. It can be a good idea to use a mosquito net over your bed at night. Spray the net with an insect repellent each evening to provide an extra insect barrier. Plug-in repellents that slowly vaporize during the night are also available.

Stings
If a bee leaves its sting and poison sac lodged in your skin, remove it gently by scraping with a fingernail, credit card or a sterile needle - don't grasp with fingers or tweezers or you may force more venom into the wound. Wash the affected area with soap and water. As bee stings are acid, apply a little baking soda mixed with water to neutralise the chemicals present. Wasp stings (and gnat bites) are alkaline, so apply a little wine vinegar or lemon juice will help to relieve pain. You can also apply a drop of neat lavender oil directly onto a bite or sting, and repeat every five minutes up to a maximum of 10 drops.

An ice pack or any of the creams mentioned for treating insect bites will also help to ease any discomfort. Aloe vera gel has soothing, anti-inflammatory properties and is used externally to help a number of skin problems including bites and stings. As the sting was injected a significant way under the skin, keep an eye on the area in case it becomes infected. If the surrounding area remains hot and red for more than a day, seek medical advice in case you need antibiotics.

Jelly fish
Jelly fish are becoming an increasingly common hazard when swimming in our warmer coastal waters. The sting causes an intense, burning pain and a red rash on the skin with marks lasting from several days to several weeks depending on the species involved. Rinse the area with salt water - not fresh water, which may cause more toxins to be released from the many stinging cells (nematocysts) left embedded in the skin. Carefully remove any remaining tentacles (using gloved hands) and, if available, apply shaving cream and shave the area with a safety razor. The shaving cream prevents the stinging cells from discharging more poison as the razor removes them. Then apply diluted acid (eg white vinegar, lemon juice) to help neutralise the poison. Do not rub the area or apply ice. The area should then be immobilised as much as possible until medical advice is sought. Taking ibuprofen will reduce inflammation and pain.

Warning signs
If someone develops symptoms such as faintness, collapses, suffers swelling or difficulty breathing after being bitten or stung, seek urgent medical help by dialling 999, as they may be experiencing an allergic reaction to the sting. People who have a severe allergy to bites or stings may need to carry a pre-filled syringe of adrenaline with them at all times to be injected immediately if an allergic reaction occurs.

If someone is stung in the mouth or throat, call an ambulance and give them ice cubes to suck whilst waiting for urgent help to arrive.

If someone is stung around or in the eye, seek medical advice.