Spending time outdoors should be fun, not painful, but every year millions of people feel the bite. The same warm weather that makes summer so great for humans also makes it a welcoming environment for biting insects, and if you are not careful, you could be the next victim. Here are some of the most common summer bug bites, and what you can do to prevent them.
Mosquito Bites
Mosquito bites have always been painful, but thanks to the emergence of the Zika Virus, they can now be devastating to pregnant women and their partners. This terrible virus is a real threat in many parts of the country, and it can create serious and even life-threatening bird defects in the developing fetus.
You can protect yourself from mosquito bites, and from the diseases those bites can carry, by eliminating standing water around your home, always wearing repellent and staying indoors at dawn and dusk. If you are bitten by a mosquito, be sure to talk to your doctor, especially if you are pregnant or trying to be.
Spider Bites
Even the tiniest spiders can pack a painful bite, and some species are quite poisonous. Spiders like the black widow and brown recluse are very poisonous, and any bite should be cause for alarm.
Even harmless species of spiders can create a painful bite, so watch out for these 8-legged creatures whenever you go outdoors. Be careful turning over logs where spiders could be hiding, and take down cobwebs to deny them a place to stay.
Tick Bites
Ticks are everywhere in the summer months, and their bites can be both painful and potentially dangerous. Tick bites are known to carry Lyme Disease, and some species can also carry even more dangerous pathogens.
There are things you can do to make tick bites less likely, including wearing long sleeves when working outside or walking through the woods. You can also protect yourself from ticks by applying a quality tick repellent with DEET, and by checking yourself frequently for these little hitchhikers. Be sure to check your kids and pets for ticks as well – it will protect them and give you peace of mind.
The summer season is lots of fun, but it can also be a time of danger. Biting insects are common at this time of year, and it is important to protect yourself by taking the proper precautions.
