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. The most recent threat of mosquito borne illnesses is the Zika virus. Cases of Zika in the United States can be contributed to travel, and women (especially pregnant women) are at the greatest risk of effects. 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, black flies
- 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.
