Climate Change & Environmental Science

Insects of Medical Importance

It is nearly impossible to find and measure the total impact of insects on human health .   These insects have the whole capacity to inflict injuries, diseases. They can be a direct or indirect cause of illness, pain, and suffering through bites, stings, infested wounds, or allergic reactions.  They feed on human blood or body tissues and they may transmit deadly pathogens or parasites.

All of the arthropods insects that can inject human skin have mouth that are especially adapted for piercing.   These include:

• Diptera (mosquitoes, black flies, horse flies, deer flies, stable flies, sand flies, and various biting midges)
• Hemiptera (bed bugs, assassin bugs, water bugs)
• Thysanoptera  (thrips)
• Phthiraptera (sucking lice)
• Siphonaptera  (fleas)
• The class Arachnida(spiders, mites, and ticks).

Insects use as pests:

• Arthropod venom is rapid-acting and frequently associated with considerable pain.
• The family Oestridae includes warble flies, cattle grubs, and bot flies whose larvae also parasitize domestic animals.