Bug Off! How to Avoid Summer Bites

We’re just starting the best season of the year – with its outdoor picnics, barbecues, trips to the beach, the pool and the lake, plus multicolored gardens in full bloom. But nothing can spoil your carefree day quicker than a bug bite or a flood of. Here’s how to avoid the most common critters, and what you should do if you get caught:

Mosquitoes If you’re not prepared, they bite you before you know it, and suddenly you’re seeing red, itchy bumps on your legs, hands and arms. Most of the time a mosquito bite is just irritating, but the insect has been known to carry the deadly West Nile virus, so it’s important to avoid them as much as you can. Basically, there’s only one way to protect yourself: with insect repellent. The federal Centers for Disease Control recommends repellents that contain DEET. Look for products that contain high concentrations of DEET, because they’ll give you protection for a longer period of time. How long? That depends. If you’re sweating or splashing around in water, the effect won’t be as long-lasting, perhaps as short a time as three hours. If you find yourself getting a bite or two, put on more repellent. Be sure to follow package instructions exactly. You must also get rid of any standing water inside or outside your home. If you don’t mosquitoes will breed there. Other ways to avoid being a mosquito magnet: don’t wear any kind of fragrance, and avoid bright colors (mosquitoes love them.) If you’re sitting on the deck after dark, you can also use a citronella candle (left).

Fleas Like mosquitoes, fleas flourish in warmer weather and leave itchy red bumps on your body. A lot of people tend to associate fleas with pet dogs and cats, and it’s true that animals often suffer from them. If you find that’s the case with your pet, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about the right treatment. But whether or not your pet is afflicted (and even if you don’t have any pets) fleas can invade your home, taking over even the most hard-to-reach areas, like inside your mattress. But unlike bedbugs (which really do need a professional exterminator) you can fight fleas on your own. Experts recommend daily vacuuming; it will get rid of both adult fleas and eggs. But dispose of the vacuum bag frequently (or even every time after you use it) and keep a pet flea collar in the bag so the bugs can’t survive and reproduce. You should also wash your bedding and removable furniture covers. If these don’t work, you may have to have an exterminator “bomb” the house. If that happens, make sure that your family and your pets are safely out of range. And steer them clear of any pesticide residue.

Ants Nothing can put you off your food more than the sight of a column of ants marching straight for the potato salad. But you can stop that from happening with a few simple steps: Cover all food tightly when it’s not being eaten. Don’t drop a lot of crumbs on the ground. Since you're around a lot of food, it's probably best to use non-toxic pest control methods. Leaving a border of mint leaves around the picnic area (we’re not kidding) will repel the ants. They also hate orange peel.

Ticks Maybe the scariest bugs of all, because they can carry Lyme Disease and can be difficult to spot. Most often they congregate in areas thick with grass, trees and bushes. (That includes your yard and garden, so it’s a good idea to keep them as trim as possible.) Wear light-colored clothing so you can spot ticks more easily and use a repellent that contains DEET. After a hike, examine all your clothing and your entire body. If you do find a ticket, lift it off your skin or clothing with a small tweezer. Be sure to lift it directly up; don’t crush it or squeeze it. Finally, consider using tick-control products on your pets, and avoid deer (the most common carrier of ticks).

Bees Not only are bee stings painful, for some people they can be fatal. An estimated 40 to 50 people die every year from allergic reactions to bee stings. It’s important to remember that this reaction can occur even if a person has been previously stung without any reaction. An epi-pen, a prescription self-injection kit, can be a lifesaver. Signs that a person is suffering a severe reaction includes wheezing, difficulty breathing, dizziness, low blood pressure, and in the worst cases, shock. If that happens, get to a hospital right away. Luckily, though, most reactions to bee stings are much milder—a painful stinging that’s confined to the site of the sting and, perhaps, to the surrounding area. Remove the stinger with a back and forth motion of a fingernail or credit card; don’t lift with a tweezers as you would with a tick. Wash the area with soap and water, and use cold compresses to reduce swelling. To protect yourself, avoid brightly colored clothing and fragrance (bees are attracted to both) and don’t leave any sweet or sticky food out in the open. A final note: Don’t try to use a swatter on bees. That will just make them more aggressive. And never, never try to break up a beehive.

Wasps Like bees, wasps inject venom at the site of their stings. Reactions can vary from a relatively small amount of pain to allergic reactions that can be severe and even life-threatening. If a person shows signs of dizziness, swelling and nausea, get to a hospital immediately. In general, though, wasp stings are less serious than bee stings. And as is the case with bees, remove the stinger by gently wiggling it out, clean the area and put a compress or ice on it. Keep garbage can lids tight, and don’t leave out any sticky or sweet food out. Follow the usual precautions: Avoid insect magnets like brightly colored clothes or fragrance. In short, save your red T-shirt and your perfume for the office!