Beware Biting Bugs: Mosquito and Tick Hot Spots for Summer

The Growing Threat of Summer Biting Bugs

As climate change leads to warmer summers, biting bugs like mosquitoes and ticks are becoming more prevalent and posing greater health risks. Understanding where these insects live and breed can help you take precautions to avoid bites this summer.

Mosquitoes Spread Far and Wide

Mosquitoes need standing water to breed, so any container that collects rainwater can serve as a breeding ground. Common mosquito habitats in summertime include:

• Flower pots, buckets, and watering cans
• Bird baths
• Rain gutters
• Old tires
• Untreated swimming pools
• Ponds and other stagnant water sources

Mosquitoes can fly up to 3 miles from their breeding site, so even if you don't have standing water in your own yard, you may still encounter mosquitoes. Some species like the Asian tiger mosquito are especially aggressive daytime biters.

Mosquito-Borne Illnesses

Mosquito bites can transmit a variety of diseases, including:

• West Nile virus - Causes fever, headaches, and fatigue. Severe infections can lead to neurological issues.
• Zika virus - Usually a mild illness, but can cause birth defects if contracted during pregnancy.
• Dengue fever - Flu-like fever often accompanied by rash and intense joint pain.
• Malaria - Debilitating and sometimes fatal disease marked by cycles of chills, fever, and sweating.
• Eastern equine encephalitis - Rare but dangerous viral infection that can cause inflammation of the brain.

Using EPA registered insect repellents, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding being outdoors at dusk/dawn can reduce your mosquito exposure.

Ticks Questing for Hosts

Ticks live in overgrown grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. They require high humidity levels to survive. As temperatures warm in the spring and summer, ticks become more active and "quest" for hosts by climbing on grasses and bushes and waiting for a human or animal to brush by so they can hitch a ride.

Some common tick habitats include:

• Parks and recreational areas
• Overgrown lawns and yards
• Roadside grassy patches
• Hiking trails
• Campgrounds
• Wood piles

Dangers of Tick-Borne Diseases

Ticks can transmit several worrisome illnesses, such as:

• Lyme disease - Leads to flu-like symptoms and a characteristic bullseye rash. Can progress to joint pain, neurological issues if untreated.
• Rocky Mountain spotted fever - Severe bacterial infection that causes high fever, headache, rash, and nausea.
• Anaplasmosis - Similar to Lyme disease but usually more mild. Fever, chills, muscle aches are common.
• Babesiosis - Parasitic infection that destroys red blood cells. Causes fever, chills, muscle pain, fatigue.
• Powassan virus - Rare but sometimes fatal tick-borne virus. Often causes encephalitis (brain inflammation).

Wearing long pants tucked into boots or socks, using permethrin treated clothing, and performing tick checks after being outdoors can help prevent tick bites and diseases.

Which Body Parts Are Most Vulnerable to Bug Bites?

Certain areas of your body are especially prone to bug bites due to access, airflow, and body temperature.

Mosquito Bite Danger Zones

Mosquitoes are attracted to the higher temperatures, smells, and sweat glands concentrated on some body parts. Common mosquito targets include:

• Ankles - Thin skin and blood vessels are close to skin surface.
• Forearms - Easily accessible area while sleeping or resting.
• Hairline and ears - Prime location to tap small blood vessels.
• Back of knees - Sensitive, rarely protected area.

Where Ticks Latch On

Ticks crawl up from low vegetation and wander around for thin skin. Popular tick attachment sites are:

• Groin - Sensitive folds and creases difficult to fully inspect.
• Armpits - Warm area ticks gravitate toward after contacting skin.
• Back of knees - Sweat attracts ticks to moist environment.
• Waistline and belly button - Questing ticks easily access stomach and back.
• Scalp - Ticks crawl up neck and burrow into hair roots.

Other Bug Biting Hot Spots

Additional high risk areas for biting insects include:

• Feet - Attracts ticks, ground beetles, biting flies.
• Shoulders and neck - Often exposed to flying insects.
• Facial area - Draws mosquitoes, no-see-ums, black flies to eyes, mouth, and nose.

Examining these zones carefully after spending time outdoors can help you locate and remove embedded biting bugs promptly.

Preventing Painful Bug Bites

You can take several steps to avoid those aggravating summer bug bites:

Discourage Mosquitoes

• Eliminate standing water sources in your yard.
• Install or repair window & door screens.
• Use oscillating fans to disrupt mosquito flight.
• Burn citronella candles or use other repellent plants like lavender, catnip, basil.
• Apply EPA registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Wear light colored, long sleeved shirts and long pants.

Guard Against Ticks

• Keep grass mowed short and remove brush/leaf litter where ticks dwell.
• Place a 3 ft wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between wooded areas and lawns/play areas.
• Treat clothing with 0.5% permethrin to repel and kill ticks.
• Stick to center of trails when hiking and avoid tall grasses/brush.
• Perform daily full body tick checks after being outdoors.

General Precautions

• Avoid being outside at dawn/dusk when biting insects are most active.
• Wear light colored clothing to spot bugs more easily.
• Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus oil.
• Shower after coming indoors to wash away loose insects.
• Carefully inspect body for any embedded bugs and remove promptly.

Vigilance and some simple preventive measures can help keep you bite-free this summer so you can enjoy the outdoors safely.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.