No story about allergies would be complete without discussing the peculiarly nasty Texas Lone Star tick. It is an aggressive insect which is aroused by the carbon dioxide in the breaths of mammals and it will vigorously pursue its victims. This tick also has vile cousins such as the Castor Bean tick in Europe and the Paralysis tick in Australia.

The Texas Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is curious because one bite from this insect can induce a permanent allergy to red meat in humans. This allergy cannot be cured and is spreading rapidly across the USA as warmer temperatures encourage this tick’s migration northwards. The allergy can induce a dangerous reaction called anaphylaxis – untreated, this can lead to death, and many thousands of people are afflicted though actual numbers are unclear as it is not a condition American doctors routinely monitor.