StoSoutdoors
                          

  Mosquitoes may be as dangerous than all the bears, cougars and moose out there. They certainly are more irritating. There are far more human deaths from insects than all other deaths caused by mammals. Insects and other bugs are clearly a danger to be reckoned with.
Bees and Wasps
These two actually kill many more people than all the mammal deaths put together. If you are allergic to bees or wasps, be sure to bring whatever the doctor recommends when you are backpacking. Be careful around hollow rotted logs and other potential nesting places too.
Mosquitoes
These used to be just an annoyance here in North America. Now they carry diseases like West Nile Fever. Use any good repellent with DEET in it to keep them away. Camp where there is a strong breeze if they are particularly bad. Light colored clothing seems to attract fewer mosquitoes than darker clothing.
The smell of dirty socks and feet is known to attract mosquitoes. Interestingly the smell of limburger cheese is also a mosquito magnet. A few years ago, a scientist discovered that the same bacteria that is used to culture limburger causes foot odor. Now you might not want to bring limburger cheese backpacking - or eat it at all.
Mosquito head nets are a good idea if you know you'll be in an area with many mosquitoes. At about an ounce, they don't add much weight to your backpack.
Spiders
  The black widow is usually black with a red (often hourglass-shaped) mark on it's abdomen. A bite can cause cramping pains that eventually affect the whole body. Restlessness, vomiting, nausea, weakness, and painful breathing are also possible. Though extremely painful, healthy adults usually survive. There is an antivenom if you can get to a hospital.
The brown recluse spider is brown, with a black violin-shaped mark on its back. The bite isn't painful at first, but after an hour or two the area turns red. Then a bump forms that eventually bursts, and the flesh starts "rotting" around the bite. In the first 36 hours, there may also be a fever, pain in the joints, and a skin rash. There is an antivenom if you can get to a hospital.
Black Flies
  These are some of the most irritating of insect bites, because they blackflies not only swarm over you, but crawl and wiggle to get under clothing and at your skin. A head net helps. Unfortunately DEET doesn't work as well to repel blackflies as it does for mosquitoes. You should also seal your cuffs and pant legs tightly.
Scorpions
Fortunately, most scorpion stings are not all that dangerous for healthy adults. There will usually be localized pain and swelling, some numbness around the bite, and not much more. The more dangerous species (like the yellow Centuroides sculptuatus) are found in Mexico, New Mexico, Arizona and Southern California. these usually cause immediate severe pain. Get to a hospital!
Fire Ants
These inflict dangerous insect bites only if you are sensitive or get stung by many (at least dozens) at once. The bite is very painful. Watch where you step or sit down if you are in fire ant territory.
Ticks
  Ticks in the east and mid west can carry Lyme Disease. In the west they carry Colorado Fever and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. They usually are a threat early in the summer, or later at higher elevations. Tick bites become rare by the end of August. Check yourself a couple times daily for ticks (with a friend's help, if possible). Slowly pull them loose if they have already bitten you.
Insect Bite Remedies
  To relieve the itch from insect bites, including mosquito bites, you can apply the juice of jewelweed plants . This plant grows in wet areas, and water dripped on the leaves beads up, looking like jewels, hence the name. The stems are translucent, and the plant has dangling yellow or orange flowers.
Ice (or snow) also helps if applied to painful or irritating insect bites. Ice isn't usually available when backpacking, of course, unless you are hiking in winter or high in the mountains. Cold water may provide some relief.
If you have Benadryl or another antihistamine, these can control the swelling caused by some insect bites. Aspirin or acetaminophen can also relieve some pain related to insect bites. Seek medical help for bites from particularly venomous bugs, those that cause shock or from insects you are allergic too.
Key Points
1. Use repellent with DEET to avoid contact with insects.
2. Use head nets and tight cuffs.
3. Application of ice or snow may help relieve pain and swelling caused by insect bites.
4. Seek medical help when necessary.
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  Backpacking Quick Tips

  Old raincoat sleeves can be made into lightweight water-resistant stuff-sacks with a little sewing. Old nylon jacket sleeves will work too, and make lighter stuff sacks, though not water resistant.
Club moss spores  were once used as 'flash powder' by magicians. Drop a pinch over a flame and it create an instant and large flash for signaling rescuers. It is also just fun. The flower heads often give off little puffs of the yellow spores as you walk through them. Collected green, they will open and release their spores in a day or two if kept in a warm dry place. I have collected more than a pound this way, for just a few hours work.
Don't fold tarps and tents. Stuff them into their stuff sacks. Folding repeatedly in the same way creates weak spots in the fabric.