Q:What insect has the most painful sting, in your opinion?

A: That is a good question and I feel I am qualified to answer it because I have been bitten and stung by just about everything that bites and stings.

Over the years I have been bitten by venomous snakes nine times (two copperheads, one water moccasin and six rattlesnakes). I have been stung by a half dozen scorpions, several centipedes, a black widow and several other spiders, fire ants, harvester ants, velvet ants (wingless wasps), bats, rats and cats.

Without a doubt the most painful bite I have sustained was from a wheel bug.

Wheel bugs are in the assassin bug family and look like dinosaurs with their cog-shaped thorax. My first impression after the bite was the feeling of being shot (I have been shot).

After the first impression the pain was so intense that suicide entered my mind, or at the very least, chopping off my hand. Fortunately I didn't do any of those things, but the pain lingered for a couple of days.

Wheel bugs aren't dangerous in that they won't kill you, but they certainly will get your attention. None of the snake bites were as painful as the wheel bug's, although they were potentially more dangerous.

By the way, there is a direct correlation between snakebite and booze. The profile for most snakebite victims is a young, white male under the influence. In all of my snakebites I would have to say I fit that profile. I have not been bitten in almost 20 years. .


Q: We have little beetles in our pantry and my exterminator wants to spray the shelves. Is there another way to solve this problem? Also, how do I prevent them from coming back?

A: You have what are collectively known as stored product pests (SPPs). A number of different insects infest grains, breads, cereals and other foods. Most are beetles or moths. You have to inspect all of the food in your pantry and throw away everything that is infested.

The pantry needs to be completely cleaned, with special attention given to the area where the shelf joins the wall, since food particles can collect there. Also, concentrate on the floor along the wall, because the bugs may hide behind the baseboard, particularly if there are crumbs wedged in there.

After you have discarded the infested food and thoroughly cleaned the pantry, there are a few things you can do to prevent a recurrence of the problem:

-- Do not put exposed food on the shelves. Place it in containers with tight-fitting lids. Plastic bags are not adequate.

-- Regularly clean the shelves, bins and other locations where there is a possibility of food particles accumulating.

-- Do not mix old and new foodstuffs. If the old material is infested, the insects will quickly infest the new.

-- Clean old containers before filling them with food. They may otherwise be contaminated and start a new infestation.

-- Do not purchase any broken or damaged packages of food products even if they are cheaper. They are more likely to be infested.

-- Keep storage areas dry. Moisture is conducive to the development of SPPs and dryness discourages them.

-- SPPs can breed in rodent bait. Another good reason never to use rodenticides in your home. .


My book, "Ask the Bugman,"based on this column, willbe available in April. For information you may call the publisher at (800) 249-7737 or contact me.