The Biting Bugs of Summer Are Back

Page 1 of 2 ( 1 2 )

The biting bugs of summer are back again. Most are just huge nuisances, though some carry diseases. Understanding when and where each kind is likely to cause trouble can lower their bother but the only really effective thing to do is to use repellents. The major pests are black flies, ticks, biting flies, yellow jackets and of course, mosquitoes. The true unsung heroes in bug battle are our county mosquito control officers. They monitor the insect populations with traps and lab analysis, then treat areas that show unusual population buildups. They provide early warning of diseases, and take the actions necessary to protect public health. They even do what they can for mosquito nuisance control. Mosquitos Mosquitoes are attracted to the scent of carbon dioxide and lactic acid, compounds released by the skin. Some like biting the head or feet perhaps because of skin temperature. They like adults better than children, and prefer men to women. Moisture also attracts them. Dry people are less bothered. The worst biters are the ubiquitous mosquitoes that breed in a few days after every rain storm and they bite a lot. They prey at dawn, dusk and on cool, cloudy days. As their populations build up, they become a gigantic nuisance, and many species carry serious diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and encephalitis. There are many different species of mosquitoes. For example, in Massachusetts alone, there are l8 species though only a a few cause problems for people. They all may look alike to you, but the different kinds bite at different times and in different places. For instance, in Massachusetts, there is a cat tail mosquito which breeds only around the roots of cat tails in fresh water swamps. It and another species of swamp mosquito, bite mid-June to mid-July, but only at night and they will fly 5 miles for a good blood meal. Then there is a salt marsh mosquito, that bites only during the day but can fly up to 20 miles for its blood meal. It has 3 broods a season which hatch just a few days after the monthly full moon and ocean flood tides the moon causes. So there is a new brood once in June, again in July and then in August. What to Do? A new comprehensive medical study suggests using repellents containing DEET (diethyltoluamide), which works also for flies, chiggers, fleas and ticks. Products that contain DEET, which is absorbed through the skin, are Off, Deep Woods, Ben's, Cutter and Repel. However, the best ones to use are the polymer based, extended release kinds that last longer and are absorbed less by the body. One, called Skedaddle, was formulated by a father especially for children but can also be used by adults who prefer a lower (6.5% and 10%) concentration. The other one, called Hour Guard, was developed for the army. It's 25% spray is supposed to last 8 hours, the 35% cream lasts 12 hours. Precautions When Using DEET: The higher concentrations of DEET don't work better, they just last longer. Generally 10%-35% is enough under normal conditions, but never more than 10% on children, and not at all on babies. (Children have a high skin to body weight ratio so there's more absorptive area and one has to be careful too much is not absorbed.) Spray on skin or clothing, but not on undergarments or on the face or in the eyes. Spray on hands and spread it on the face, then wash hands. Wash children's hands too. DEET has been used for 40 years with rare incidents of sensitivity. Most problems have come from extended or excessive use, particularly when perspiring. DEET can be sprayed on tents, screens, sleeping bags and clothes. It damages plastics, eyeglasses, synthetic fabrics and painted surfaces, but does not harm nylon, cotton or wool. Other Repellents In tests, Skin-So-Soft worked for 40 minutes, much less than 12% DEET's 4 hours of protection. (It's not useful for ticks.) Buzz Away, a citronella oil, worked for 2 hours. Bite Blocker made of soybean, geranium and coconut oils worked for 3.5 hours, the same as 7% DEET. In other tests, people near citronella candles had 42% fewer bites than controls. Even plain candles reduced bites by 23%. Pyrethrum, a less toxic insecticide for mosquitoes, flies, ticks and chiggers can be sprayed on clothing, tents, screens and such, but not directly on skin. Spray on clothing, then let it dry for 2-3 hours. It lasts for about 2 weeks, even through washings.

...Continued - Page 1 of 2 ( 1 2 )
Next Page >