Summer’s Insects: Bees, Mosquitoes, and Ants
There really is nothing you can do to completely avoid these insects, but you can lower the number of them that congregate around your home and yard in the summer.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are a common summer pest, and people spend money each year trying different products to rid themselves of this problem. Not only are mosquito bites itchy and annoying, this insect carries the threat of West Nile virus.
Mosquitoes are numerous around dusk and linger into the nighttime hours. Avoid being outside during these times if you can. If you want to be outside during this time, make sure you wear long sleeves and long pants to avoid showing skin. Don’t forget your insect repellant.
It is a good idea to keep your property free of standing water; this is where mosquitoes breed and flourish. Keep swimming pools covered when not in use and keep the water moving. If you have areas in your lawn that dip and hold water after a rainstorm, you might want to consider getting the dips filled in so your yard is level. This will lower the amount of standing water near your home.
Ants
Black ants can be annoying, but fire ants can be down right nasty. When it comes to dealing with blacks ants, they really aren’t a worry unless they make their way into your home.
Fire ants, on the other hand, are a big worry. For the most part, these are only found in the southeastern states in the United States. The bite from a fire ant is known to cause allergic reactions in some people.
If you find fire ants on your property, there are a number of things you should do. Your very first move should be getting rid of them. This may not be easy, and you may require professional assistance. Be careful if you choose to try this on your own. Poisons left around your property will be accessible to pets and wild animals, even though you are targeting the fire ants.
While you are waiting to see if the ants have been successfully removed from your property, protect yourself, your family, and your guests. Warn everyone that fire ants have been found on your property, and let them know how to avoid them.
Wear protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible while outside, and keep sting remedies on hand. If you or someone in your family is allergic to fire ant bites, get advice from your doctor as soon as possible.
Bees
If you are allergic to bee stings (or any other insect) you should carry and epinephrine kit with you at all times. Even more importantly, you should know how to use it. Everyone in your family should be familiar with how to administer a dose in the case that you cannot do it for yourself.
To avoid bees and wasps, avoid hanging out near their hives or near a flower garden. If you are allergic to bee stings, you may want to rethink having that flower garden, or at least hire someone else to tend to it for you.
Be careful when wearing flip-flops or running around barefoot. You should avoid bright, busy colors and perfumes, because these may attract bees. Insect repellant will work for other insects, but will not keep away bees.
Keep foods covered when eating outdoors and keep your garbage cans closes tightly. Also remember that just avoiding a bee helps to avoid a sting. Bees and wasps will generally leave you alone if you don’t bother them.
If you find wasp or bee hives on your house or on your property, hire someone to remove them for you. It’s usually not a good idea to try to remove them on your own. Look around your home, under eaves and other nooks, to find where they may be nesting.
Final Thoughts
Unless you are allergic, these pests will be nothing more than a nuisance, but it doesn’t mean you have to put up with high numbers of them buzzing around you. If you are allergic, talk to your doctor about avoidance, and ask for tips on how to stay safe without completely limiting your life.
