The Hawaiian Islands have less of a bug
problem than most tropical locations because the islands are so
remote. Bugs can’t crawl to Hawaii, they have to fly or be
transported there. It is thought that mosquitoes did not exist in the
Hawaiian islands until 1827 when they apparently arrived by ship
along
with the sailors that traveled to the islands. (One of those unwanted gifts brought
to Hawaii). Mosquitoes are most bothersome at dawn and dusk, so
if you'll be outside during those times and are prone to bites,
as I am, be prepared.
I've found the most effective mosquito repellants are essential
oils -- a blend of tea tree, lavender & lemongrass works for
me.
Spiders
One
of the spiders you might be "lucky" enough to spot is
the cane spider. Cane spiders look really scary, but
fortunately are not particularly dangerous. There are some
pesky spiders on Kauai that are venomous, however, so try to
avoid them. These include the Asian spiny-backed spiders,
that are usually building webs at lightning speed rather than
stalking humans to bite (you'll find their webs all around the
island). However, a bite is painful and
the area bitten will likely swell.
Centipedes
We’re not really sure when or how the centipede
arrived, possibly with the Polynesians centuries ago, but there are some on the island. The good news is
there are very few of them and you’ll probably never see one.
(I never have.) They generally hang out on the underside of
leaves or rocks in wet forest areas. The bad news is, these aren’t your
ordinary centipedes. Some are huge, and their bite is poisonous.
Reactions can range from slight pain and swelling, to severe
pain and massive swelling of the entire affected limb, which can
last for several days and require a hospital admission.
Centipedes are mostly active at night, and occasionally they do
venture indoors. So watch where you step, and if you do see a centipede, keep a safe distance.
