Summer brings sun, fun, sand, swimming……… and BUGS! We all
struggle with managing outdoor excitement while swatting away mosquitoes, black
flies and gnats. Or dealing with the aftermath of an attack of chiggers or
noseeums. Or, worse, finding a tick embedding itself into your skin. YUCK!
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are flying parasites that feed on blood. Gross,
right? Well, they are also very problematic because of 1. Itchy, red,
irritating skin reactions that are caused by their saliva, and 2. They can
transmit terrible diseases like West Nile Virus. Mosquitoes are most active
during dawn and dusk.
Gnats, Black Flies, Midges
Gnats are a family of flying insects, and can include black
flies, sand flies and midges. Gnats are small, biting insects. Their bites can
be extraordinarily itchy and inflamed, especially if there have been multiple
bites concentrated in one area. They are typically found in wet or swampy
areas.
Ticks
Ticks are a type of arachnid (like spiders). Ticks can carry
all kinds of nasty diseases, but the one of most concern is Lyme. There are a
variety of species of ticks, but the one of most concern is the deer tick. Deer
ticks are called deer ticks because they exist primarily in areas where deer
are found. There are other types, including dog ticks, and lone star ticks, but
I always just assume that all ticks are bad, and all ticks can carry some type
of disease, so avoid them or remove them all! Seriously, who wants any tick on
their skin?! Deer ticks specifically, however, can be identified by its 8 black
legs, black head and brown rounded body. And it is really really small. I hate to say this; because it will
forever affect the way you look at watermelon, but a deer tick kind of looks
like a tiny watermelon seed. (Sorry!) An engorged tick will look MUCH bigger,
sort of like a small grayish ball. GROSS!
Disclaimer: If a tick is attached to your skin, YOU MUST
REMOVE IT! Using tweezers, grasp the tick gently near where it is attached to
the skin and pull straight out. Do not twist, do not rupture the tick, and the
head must be fully removed from your skin to help prevent exposure to Lyme.
After you have removed the tick, disinfect the area using rubbing alcohol. If
you are concerned, or if you think the tick has not been fully removed, keep
the tick (put it in a small unused container with some rubbing alcohol) and
take it with you to a doctor. If you have been outside, always check your skin
for ticks!
Are you at risk? These maps show the areas of the
United States with higher concentrations of tick carrying Lyme and mosquito
carrying West Nile Virus. Where are you?
(This
doesn’t mean only these states have insects, obviously. These are the higher
risk/concentration areas.)
Gear up with BUG SPRAY! But what does it all mean? There are
so many options, how do we choose what is best for our area and our family?
First of all, insect repellents are *chemicals*. Because
they are chemicals, they can cause adverse reactions, damage certain types of
products, and have health side effects. Any chemical can do this. However, expert
organizations have found that the diseases are far worse than the effects of
insect repellents. It’s always a personal choice, but there is research
available for us, as consumers, so that we can be best educated to make the
best choices.
I will be referencing several organizations within this blog
article, so I wanted to use their acronyms. These organizations are:
- Center for Disease Control and Protection (CDC)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
DEET
Diethyltoluamide, created by the US Government and first
used by the public in 1957. Use less than 30% concentration and reapply every
3-5 hours. Do not use on children under 2 months old, and AAP recommends not
using on children’s face or hands.
Pros
- Considered safe by the CDC, AAP, EPA and WHO
- Effective against mosquitoes, gnats, ticks
Cons
- Significant odor
- Greasy residue
- Cannot be sprayed directly on skin, spray only
on clothing
- ·Must be washed off at night
- Can cause physical side effects (some evidence
it has been linked to seizures)
- Concerns about toxicity
- European Union classifies DEET as Harmful (Xn)
- Will dissolve plastics
Picaridin
Piperidinecarboxylic acid, developed by Bayer in the 1980s.
It has been available in the United States since 2005.
Pros
- Effective against mosquitoes, gnats, ticks
- Works as well as DEET, without the negative
effects of DEET
- Considered safe by the EPA
- Endorsed by AAP as an alternative to DEET
- Will not dissolve plastics like DEET does
- Does not irritate skin, and can be directly
applied to skin
- No significant odor
Cons
- Needs to be reapplied more frequently for
effectiveness (every 2-3 hours)
Permethrin
Phenoxybenzyl, an insecticide rather than an insect repellent.
Pros
- Kills mosquitoes and ticks
Cons
- Known to be toxic to cats
- Toxic to fish
- Can ONLY be used on clothing, tents, etc.
- Not suitable as a personal insect repellent
IR3535
Ethyl ester, developed by the Merck company, and used in the
United States since 1999. As far as I have been able to tell, AVON SkinSoSoft
Bug Guard is the only product available with IR3535. Many people prefer IR3535
primarily because it has the most effective insect repellent in comparison with
the least level of toxicity.
Pros
- Effective against mosquitoes, some gnats, ticks
- Considered safe by the EPA
- Does not irritate skin, and can be directly
applied to skin
- No significant toxicity has been found
Cons
- Does not repel black flies
- May be less effective than DEET or Picaridin, particularly
against mosquitoes
- Can be irritating to eyes
- May dissolve plastics
Other options, such as Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is a plant based insect repellent
that has been approved for use as an insect repellent by the EPA. It is
important to note that the Environmental Working Group does not advocate using
any other “organic”, “botanical” or “natural” insect repellents to ensure that
disease carrying insects are repelled because 1. They are not approved by the
EPA for use as insect repellents, and 2. There is no evidence that they repel
insects effectively.
Sources:
Environmental Working Group.
"EWG's Guide to Better Bug Repellents." Environmental Working Group,
July 2013. Web.
Ogg, Barb, PhD. "What's the
Scoop on Insect Repellents?" University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Aug. 2008.
Web.
Scutti, Susan. "The Four Best
Bug Repellents: DEET, IR3535, Picaridin, Oil Of Lemon Eucalyptus Most
Effective, Says EWG." Consumer News (2013): n. pag. 18 July 2013.
Web.
Stafford, Kirby C., III. "TICK
BITE PREVENTION & THE USE OF INSECT REPELLENTS." The Connecticut
Agricultural Experiment Station (2005): n. pag. June 2005. Web.
