Insects on walks are at best an irritation, but can also be carriers of deadly diseases, even in the UK. Scottish midges can make a walk in the glens very unpleasant, but a tick bite can lead to Lyme Disease and other dangerous infections.
Ticks are tiny blood-sucking insects which can be found in areas of dense vegetation, such as long grass or bracken. They can attach themselves to you and feed on your blood by biting through your skin. The most serious disease they can carry is Lyme disease, which can be transmitted through the bite of an infected sheep tick.
The basic advice is to be vigilant, starting with prevention by assessing how likely you are to encounter insects on a particular walk and protecting yourself by covering up appropriately and/or using insect repellent. Then after a walk, check yourself (and any pets) for ticks.
If you find a tick, carefully remove it preferably with a specially-designed tick removal tool. These can be bought from outdoor shops or on-line for under £5. Or use fine pointed tweezers as close to the skin as possible. Avoid squashing the tick body, which will just inject the potentially infected blood into you. If you feel unwell (either flu-like symptoms or a spreading circular red rash) over the couple of weeks following the tick bite seek medical advice and tell your GP that you have been bitten by a tick.
The Ramblers’ website gives some sensible advice at http://www.ramblers.org.uk/advice/safety/insects.aspx, with a helpful link to the Lyme Disease Society. There is also a good fact sheet at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tick-bite-risks-and-prevention-of-lyme-disease
Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia bacteria which are carried by some ticks and can be transmitted to humans and animals. The disease was first described in 1977 and is named after its first location in Lyme, Connecticut – the bacteria were only discovered seven years later. The ticks that can carry these bacteria are common in different areas around the world, but also in the UK. The Western Isles, New Forest, but also West Berkshire are particular areas of note. They are often associated with deer. The Borrelia bacteria are cunning but early treatment with antibiotics is generally successful.