Are you ready for a brutal season of mosquitoes and ticks in? Tips to stay Safe

Have you found it unbearable to be outside in the evening as of late because of mosquitoes?

Insect experts say Michigan is in for a brutal season for blood-sucking ticks and mosquitoes, which raises the risk of certain illnesses. Other bugs, such as bees, wasps, mayflies and spiders have returned to Michigan as well.

This past winter’s extreme cold will have little effect on most bug populations in the state this summer, said Howard Russell, a Michigan State University entomologist known as “The Bug Man.”

The heavy snowfall, on the other hand, was beneficial to some creepy crawlers. It served as an insulating blanket for bugs, such as ticks, that live in the leaf litter and at the base of trees. “The snow provided a great barrier against the cold,” he said.

It also left behind lots of water in low-lying areas, which is ideal for mosquitoes to breed, Russell added.

Mosquitoes can carry West Nile as well as Encephalitis

Encephalitis is a potentially fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. In Ohio, there are three prevalent mosquito-borne viruses that cause encephalitis. LaCrosse Encephalitis (LAC) virus is transmitted between small woodland animals and mosquitoes. St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) and West Nile virus (WNV) virus are transmitted between several species of mosquitoes and wild birds. Humans are at risk of acquiring encephalitis if bitten by a female mosquito that is infected with either virus. LAC is usually an infection in young children between the ages of one and fourteen. SLE and the WNV are a more serious concern for the elderly.

Early symptoms of mosquito-borne disease may include nausea, fever, vomiting, and/or headache. These symptoms usually develop in approximately two weeks. More serious cases include drowsiness, stiff neck, stupor, disorientation, tremors, and convulsions (especially in infants). Diagnosis of encephalitis can only be made through laboratory testing. Consult your physician if any or all of these symptoms occur, especially during the peak months of virus transmission, which are June through October.

Fighting off bugs

Here are some tips from the Department of Community Health on how to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and ticks:

■Use insect repellent when outdoors, especially from dusk to dawn. Look for products with DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to keep mosquitoes and ticks away. Don’t forget to reapply as needed.

■Use nets or fans around outdoor eating areas to keep mosquitoes away.

■Make sure window and door screens are in good condition to keep mosquitoes outside.

■Cover or eliminate any containers of standing water where mosquitoes can lay eggs.

■Avoid tick-infested areas, especially in May, June and July. If you can’t, walk in the center of trails to avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush, and leaf litter.

■Treat clothes — especially pants and socks — as well as shoes with permethrin, an insecticide that kills ticks on contact or buy pre-treated clothes.

■After coming indoors, bathe or shower as soon as possible to wash off or find ticks.

■After being outdoors, wash and dry clothes at a high temperature to kill any ticks that may have gotten a ride indoors on clothing.

■To remove an attached tick, grasp it firmly and as closely to your skin as possible with a pair of tweezers. Pull the tick away from the skin with a steady motion. Do not be alarmed if the tick’s mouth parts remain in the skin. Cleanse the area with an antiseptic. Usually, ticks must be attached for at least a day before they can transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

Source: Michigan Department of Community Health
 

One thing to note is chemical sprays not only kill bugs but also you.  Many of the ingredients in insecticide sprays are known carcinogens.  If you can, use natural bug replant and plant citronella plants in your yard and keeps some in pots on your patio, deck or balcony.