Wild Cincinnati

Have you ever wondered what to do when a snake bit you? What if it is an animal you have never seen before? What if that plant is poisonous? Cincinnatians need have no fear. In this new guide, Lynne Bachleda showcases the animals, places, and potential diseases that readers could encounter in the Cincinnati area. Bachleda touches on the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, arachnids, and flora that Cincinnati has to offer and she doesn't stop there. In this book, Bachleda explains how to keep safe and what to do in case you are injured by an animal or contract a disease from an animal or plant. Some of the animals Bachleda features include coyotes, cockroaches, bees, lice, hornets, bed bugs, and Northern copperheads. Bachleda also includes some prominent diseases such as histoplasmosis, encephalitis, Rocky mountain spotted fever, lume disease, plague, malaria, scabies, and more. Excerpts True Bugs So what's a true bug? An old VW? Actually, entomologists (those people that Gary Larson regularly skewered in his Far Side cartoons as half-wits) really do have an order called "true bugs,” or Hemiptera, which means "half wing.” True bugs have forewings called hemelytra, leathery thick in the front, and transparent and membranous in the back. Another way to identify true bugs is by the way they fold their wings flat over their bodies, making an X-shape. They have sucking beaks to slurp juices, but most feed on plants. Another common trait is that most true bugs also have glands that dispatch a foul odor, e.g., the green stink bug. Most are terrestrial, but some are aquatic and can literally walk on water. The insects we're concerned with here are in the assassin bug family (Reduviidae). They bite you in defense or in search of a blood meal. Assassin bugs are named for the way they attack and "stab” victims, which is actually a bite. Cincinnati has its share of assassins, notably "Bed Bugs.” If You Are Bitten By a Bug Wash the bite with soap and water. Apply topical relief such as Benadryl ointment, and/or Take Benadryl orally if a stronger reaction such as increased swelling occurs. Bug bites are not known for producing anaphylactic shock, but it's always a good idea to monitor reactions of any encounter for the first hour or two. Bed Bugs (Cimex lectularius) Bed bugs bite. They have been implicated as but not proven to be disease carriers. They can be found throughout the U.S. and have in recent years been a substantial problem in Cincinnati. They are only .2 inches long. Flat and reddish brown to purplish, They have short legs and stubby (vestigial) wings. They can be found in human dwellings, especially bedrooms, in all socioeconomic classes. Each feeding bug makes several punctures. As the bugs' salivary fluid is not immediately irritating, their bites can go unnoticed for a period of time. After feeding, the nymphs and adults hide to be out of harm's way and can survive up to 15 months without food. Bloodsucking Conenose (Triatoma sanguisuga) Bites can cause severe allergic reactions. These are found from New Hampshire south to Florida and west as far as Texas. They are .5 to .75 inches long. They are black to dark brown with yellow-red markings (six spots). They are found in small animal nests and may invade houses. They feed on bed bugs, humans, and other mammals. Also known as the "Mexican Bed Bug” or the "Big Bed Bug.” Wheel Bug (Arilus cristatus) The wheel bug can "stab” when handled. Its bite usually is more severe than a bee sting, and both nymphs and adults should be avoided or handled with caution. It has been reported from Rhode Island westward through Iowa and Nebraska to California, and southward to Texas and Florida. It is 1 to 1.25 inches. The adult is black to grayish-brown. Nymph is deep red with black markings. The name derives from the semicircular arrangement of 8 to 12 tubercles (small, knoblike projections) resembling half a wheel. It is found in meadows and fields with crops. The perceived "stab” is actually a bite.