A full-brimmed hat can keep bugs away from your head. Or, wear a baseball cap that has a flap in the back to protect your neck. Wear gloves when gardening and performing yard work.  

When covering up, don’t forget your feet. Avoid walking barefoot, especially in grass. The majority of honey bee stings occur as the result of stepping on the bees while walking without shoes.

Certain scents attract insects, while others repel them. Wearing perfumes, colognes and other scented products (e.g., hairspray, deodorant) may attract stinging or biting insects. Perspiration can make bees and vespids (such as certain wasps, hornets and yellow jackets) more aggressive, so be sure to shower after vigorous exercise.

In contrast, wearing repellent can help deter some insects, especially mosquitoes. However, do not use insect repellent to avoid stinging insects such as wasps. DEET does not help to protect against aggressive stinging insects, like bees and hornets.

DEET is a repellent that prevents mosquitoes from finding people who wear it. DEET is available in concentrations up to 100 percent. However, higher concentration levels can cause side effects, such as irritated or blistered skin. Using lower concentrations of DEET typically helps prevent these reactions.

Generally, experts recommend that you use repellents with DEET concentrations no higher than 30 percent. Adhering to this standard is especially important when using DEET on children.