There’s a reason that insects are called pests. But despite the itchy, red bumps they leave behind, insect bites are usually mild and the itching goes away in a day or so, especially if the bug bites come from mosquitoes or biting flies. On the other hand (leg, arm, or toe...), bees, wasps, and fire ants tend to cause more irritation and can sometimes lead to bigger problems.
Bug bites can be avoided, or at least minimized, by following a few precautions for common outdoor pests. According to the experts at the Mayo Clinic, the first line of defense against insect bites is to plan ahead — always evaluate your surroundings and prepare accordingly if you anticipate large numbers of insects. It’s always a good idea to apply insect repellent with DEET or picaridin. If you’re concerned about using chemicals, particularly around children, you might want to try lemon eucalyptus and citronella oils, which also work.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are a common nuisance. When you’re outside, create a mosquito-proof barrier with citronella and citrus-oil-based candles. Wearing loose-fitting layers of clothing helps as well, as mosquitoes won’t be able to penetrate through all the layers. When it comes to perfume, avoid all fragrances that might attract unwanted attention.
Mosquitoes are a common nuisance. When you’re outside, create a mosquito-proof barrier with citronella and citrus-oil-based candles. Wearing loose-fitting layers of clothing helps as well, as mosquitoes won’t be able to penetrate through all the layers. When it comes to perfume, avoid all fragrances that might attract unwanted attention.
Yellow Jackets and Wasps
Yellow jackets or wasps can spoil any picnic, particularly in late summer when scavenger wasps look for anything with sugar in it to bring back to the feeding larvae. Your first step is to keep all sweet and pungent foods under cover. If you’re surrounded by yellow jackets or wasps, don’t start swatting, running, or waving your hands. Exaggerated movements aggravate aggressive yellow jackets and wasps. Keep calm and then slowly move away.
Yellow jackets or wasps can spoil any picnic, particularly in late summer when scavenger wasps look for anything with sugar in it to bring back to the feeding larvae. Your first step is to keep all sweet and pungent foods under cover. If you’re surrounded by yellow jackets or wasps, don’t start swatting, running, or waving your hands. Exaggerated movements aggravate aggressive yellow jackets and wasps. Keep calm and then slowly move away.
Ticks
The great outdoors can make you more susceptible to bug bites from ticks. Although ticks don’t fly, they seek warm bodies and attach. These blood-sucking parasites typically fall off once they’re full, but their feasting can take a few days.
The great outdoors can make you more susceptible to bug bites from ticks. Although ticks don’t fly, they seek warm bodies and attach. These blood-sucking parasites typically fall off once they’re full, but their feasting can take a few days.
When outdoors in wooded areas, clothing works as a great tick repellent; make sure that your skin isn’t exposed by tucking your pants into your socks, and your shirt into the waistband of your pants. If possible, apply permethrin to clothes (not skin) to protect yourself from ticks settling on fabric. Spray skin with tick repellent, like DEET. Hats and long sleeves help too.
If you do end up with a tick, forgo the hot match or petroleum-jelly method of tick removal; instead, use a pair of thin tweezers to pull the tick out by its head. The key is to grasp close to the skin and pull the tick firmly until it lets go. Since ticks are known to carry Lyme disease, store it in a jar of alcohol to bring to your doctor for identification purposes. Once the tick is removed, use an alcohol swab to remove any bacteria.
Spiders, Fire Ants, and Bumblebees
Spiders, fire ants, bees, and bumblebees don’t typically bite, unless they feel threatened or attacked. Unlike mosquitoes and ticks, who view humans as a food source, these insects stay away from people. If you are bitten or stung, apply a cold pack to minimize swelling, and then follow with hydrocortisone cream to reduce the bug-bite symptoms.
Spiders, fire ants, bees, and bumblebees don’t typically bite, unless they feel threatened or attacked. Unlike mosquitoes and ticks, who view humans as a food source, these insects stay away from people. If you are bitten or stung, apply a cold pack to minimize swelling, and then follow with hydrocortisone cream to reduce the bug-bite symptoms.
A person with insect-bite allergies may want to take an antihistamine with diphenhydramine, like Benadryl. If a spider bites you, try to identify it and make sure it’s not a black widow spider, which produces a toxin that affects the victim’s nervous system.
If bug-bite symptoms include difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips or throat, dizziness, fainting, nausea, cramps, vomiting, or hives, you need to seek emergency medical attention immediately.
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