The Buzz on Summer Bugs

Each year, as temperatures rise and people head outdoors, an army of insects waits.  When these bugs attack, they inflict bites and stings that can put a chill into your warm summer fun.

In most cases, insect encounters leave you with little more than mild itching and minor discomfort. However, other bug skirmishes can be more serious. For example, mosquito bites may transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, while tick bites can result in Lyme disease.

Bug bites and stings also can be particularly dangerous for those who have insect bite allergies. In rare cases, an allergy to insect saliva or venom can trigger a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylactic shock.  

Fortunately, there are many basic, commonsense precautions you can take to keep you from going buggy over insects this spring and summer.

Protect Yourself

You can avoid many types of bug attacks simply by making yourself less interesting and appealing to insects.

Choosing the right types of clothing can help keep insects at bay. Certain colors and patterns attract bugs that bite and sting. Avoid wearing flowery, bright-colored clothing or dark clothing. Instead, wear whites and light colors.

Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, socks and closed shoes when possible so bugs have less of a target to attack. It may even help to tuck your pants inside your socks. Also, avoid loose-fitting clothing, which can trap insects between the material and the skin. Bugs can also bite through clothing that is too tight or thin.  

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.

A spray insecticide called permethrin can be used as a tick repellent. Spraying permethrin on clothes before going outside will keep them resistant to a wide range of ticks. The effect lasts for several wash cycles.

Taking Steps Around the Home

As insect season approaches, be sure to make your home and yard less hospitable to these little guests. Each spring, examine your window screens to make sure there are no holes that can allow insects into the home. Keep garbage can lids (both inside the house and outside) tight to prevent insects from being attracted to the scent of your trash.

Eliminate any sources of standing water, which provides an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Clean out roof gutters, empty wading pools when not in use, change birdbaths every week and store containers upside down so they don’t collect water. Old tires also collect water easily, making them a mosquito’s best friend.

Ticks need protective cover to keep from dehydrating, so clearing leaf debris from wooded areas can significantly reduce tick populations.

You can also fend off bugs by placing certain deterrents in your back yard. These include bug zappers, yellow bug lights and citronella scented candles.

Thou Shalt Not Provoke

No matter how many protective steps you take, it is inevitable that you will come face-to-antennae with a few bugs this summer. The less you provoke these seasonal interlopers, the more likely you are to escape their wrath.

Avoid disturbing sites that might host bee or wasp hives, such as large trees, stumps, logs and large rocks. Spiders and scorpions often lurk in rubbish, woodpiles, attics and garages. Use care when disturbing anything in these areas.

If you do encounter flying insects, avoid slapping at them. This may provoke them. Instead, remain calm and slowly move away from them.

If insects become aggressive – such as when you accidentally disturb a bee colony – run for cover immediately. Running in a zig-zag pattern may help, even if it appears to confirm your neighbor’s worst suspicions about your sanity.

When running, cover your head and face as much as possible and dream of the colder – and safer – winter days to come.

For more information on avoiding insects, visit the Animals & Insects Center.