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Summer in Switzerland is perfect for outdoor adventures — but it's also a time when we encounter various biting insects.
Here is a guide with the most common biting insects in Switzerland that could help you identify them and soothe discomfort.
How to recognize them
Small, thin-bodied flying insects with long legs and a distinct buzzing sound. Often most active around dawn and dusk.
Where they're most active
Wetlands, lakesides, riverbanks, and forests.
Symptoms
Itchy red bumps, slight swelling, and irritation.
Natural remedies
Apply apple cider vinegar or aloe vera gel to soothe itching and reduce inflammation.
How to recognize them:
Bees are fuzzy and rounder, usually golden with black stripes. Wasps are slimmer, shiny, and more aggressive in behavior.
Where they're most active
Gardens, wooded areas, and around sweet foods or drinks
Symptoms
Sharp, immediate pain, followed by redness and swelling at the sting site.
Natural remedies
Apply heat to the area (e.g. a warm spoon or hot compress) to neutralize the venom, which is thermolabile.
How to recognize them
Large, dark flies with prominent eyes. They often buzz loudly and are attracted to movement and animals.
Where they're most active
Rural areas, especially near livestock or horses.
Symptoms
Painful bite, swelling, redness, and risk of secondary infection.
Natural remedies
Apply a paste of baking soda and water directly on the bite to ease pain and reduce swelling.
How to recognize them
Tiny, spider-like arachnids that attach to the skin and remain embedded. They grow as they feed on blood.
Where they're most active
Forests, meadows with tall grass, and wooded trails.
Symptoms
Redness around the bite, often forming a bull’s-eye shape; risk of Lyme disease.
Natural remedies
Carefully remove the tick with a tick remover tool, then disinfect the area with antiseptic. In Switzerland, pharmacists are trained to remove ticks professionally and safely and provide also provide advice on post-removal care.
How to recognize them
Small, reddish-brown insects that hide in bedding, cracks, and furniture. They usually bite at night.
Where they're most active
Mattresses, sofas, wall cracks, and headboards.
Symptoms
Red, itchy bumps often appearing in lines or clusters on the skin.
Natural remedies
Apply aloe vera gel to calm itching and help the skin heal.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
If you experience severe allergic reactions, prolonged symptoms, or signs of infection, please consult a healthcare professional.
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