Pollen allergy season is getting longer and more intense as the climate changes, creating more misery for allergy sufferers. But it’s not the only type of allergy threat getting worse with warming.

There are other allergens, like mold spores, whose spread coincides with higher temperatures and weather disruption. But one of the most insidious and underrated dangers is now coming from stinging and biting insects. These wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and bees are showing up in new areas and in greater numbers as more places become suitable for their hives, nests, and colonies.

Insect allergies are much less common than pollen sensitivity across the population, but they can cause severe, deadly complications, and they are far less studied. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on average, 72 people in the United States died from insect allergies per year over the past decade. But insect allergies send thousands of people to the emergency room every year, and millions of people live with the fear that the next insect that lands on them could ruin their day. “From a public health point of view, it’s been heavily underserved,” said David Golden, an allergy researcher and part-time faculty at Johns Hopkins University.

The result is that many people are experiencing allergic reactions from insects for the first time, sometimes unsure of where they’re coming from. Many doctors are also unaware of how to diagnose and treat insect allergies. And as the climate changes, the allergy threat from arthropods is likely to get worse.

Why insect allergies are on the rise

Changes in the climate are making the world more welcoming for insects that bite and sting.

Warmer winters and earlier springs mean more critters like yellow jackets and hornets survive the cooler seasons and emerge early in the year in greater numbers. And as temperatures continue........

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