By Jeannie Batson
Mosquitoes
Why it’s important to apply insect repellents:
· Mosquitoes may carry viruses such as West Nile Virus
which can cause serious illness or even death.
· Female mosquitoes bite because blood contains an
essential protein needed to develop their eggs.
Mosquitoes are attracted to people by skin odor and
exhaled carbon dioxide.
· Wearing insect repellent reduces the risk of being
bitten.
Insect repellents work by:
· Insect repellents do not kill mosquitoes or ticks. They
make the person less attractive to the mosquito or tick
for biting.
· Insect repellents are only effective at short distances
from the treated area.
Choosing an insect repellent for mosquitoes:
· The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends
using products that contain DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-
toluamide), Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
· Oil of citronella has also been used regularly as an
insect repellent.
· Insect repellents that contain more active ingredient
provide longer protection from mosquito bites.
· The label instructions will indicate how long the
protection will last.
When insect repellents should be applied:
· Insect repellents should be applied whenever you are
going outside especially between dusk and dawn when
many mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus bite.
· Follow the instructions on the label for re-applying
insect repellents.
· Insect repellents should be re-applied whenever a
person perspires or gets wet.
· Insect repellents should also be re-applied if a person
starts getting bitten by mosquitoes again.
How to apply insect repellents:
· Use insect repellents only on exposed skin. Do not
apply under clothing.
· Only apply enough repellent to cover exposed skin. A
heavy application is not necessary to provide
protection.
· Do not spray the repellent directly on the face. Spray
the product into the hands and then apply to the face.
· Apply the repellent whenever going outside.
Applying insect repellents to children:
· Do not apply DEET containing products to infants
under 2 months old.
· Do not apply oil of lemon eucalyptus (also known as
PMD) containing products to children under 3 years
old.
· Do not allow young children to apply their own
repellent.
· Adults should apply the repellent to their hands and
then rub the repellent onto the child.
· Make sure to avoid applying the repellent to children’s
eyes and mouth.
· Also avoid smaller children’s hands because they tend
to put their hands in their mouths.
Other things to remember:
· Do not allow standing water to accumulate. Common
areas that collect water are buckets, unused plastic
swimming pools, the base of flower pots, and pet
dishes.
· Change water in bird baths, wading pools, or fountains
at least once a week.
· Check rain barrels for mosquito larvae.
· Stock ornamental pools with minnows or goldfish.
They eat mosquito larvae.
· Keep swimming pools well chlorinated.
· Mow lawn at least once a week. Mosquitoes can hide in
the shade of tall grass.
Ticks
Ticks can infect people with bacteria that can cause diseases like Lyme disease.
How to protect yourself and your family from Ticks:
· Avoid areas that are likely to be infected with ticks.
· Wear insect repellent.
· The CDC recommends DEET containing products to
repel ticks.
· Wear light colored clothing so ticks can be easily seen
and removed before they attach to the skin.
· Wear clothing (long sleeves, long pants) that limits the
amount of exposed skin.
· Use fine tipped tweezers to remove ticks as soon as
possible. It is unlikely that ticks will infect a person
with Lyme disease if the tick is attached for less than 36
hours.
· Apply repellents according to package directions.
Follow the same guidelines as listed above for
mosquitoes.
Other important things to remember:
· Removing leaf litter, brush piles and wood piles close
to the house and yard can reduce the number of ticks
found around the home.
· Avoid using scented lotions or shampoos before going
outside. If it smells good to people it probably smells
good to ticks and mosquitoes too.
· Permethrin containing products can be applied to
clothing, shoes, bedding, nets and camping gear.
Permethrin is an insecticide (kills mosquitoes and
ticks) as well as a repellent.