It’s summer! But before you head for the great outdoors, stop and remember the less-than-savory insects that you might run into while you’re out there. Here are four ways that the National Pest Management Association recommends to make sure your enjoyable outside time doesn’t get ruined by ticks and mosquitoes.

Dress Up and Spray On!
The easiest way to protect against annoying insects is with bug spray. Anything with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or lemon eucalyptus oil will tell those bugs to buzz off. And even though it’s hot, the less skin you show, the harder it will be for mosquitoes and ticks to bite you. Long sleeved-shirts, long pants or jeans, high-topped shoes or boots, and high socks are all great for this, especially when camping or hiking. You can stay cool by wearing lighter colors.

Check Yourself (Before the Ticks Wreck Yourself)
Every day you spend time outside, give yourself a good once-over for ticks. They like the warm sweaty parts of your body the best, but they aren’t always picky and may latch onto you anywhere. An attached tick looks like a black speck or seed until it fills with blood, when it will start to resemble a very small black grape. Ticks can be removed with tweezers—grasp the tick firmly and pull it out SLOWLY, giving it a chance to let go. If you pull a tick out too fast, its head could break off and remain under your skin, causing painful inflammation. Slow and steady will win that race.

Protect Your Pets
Ticks love your pets even more than they love you! When you take your dog(s) or cat(s) outside, stay away from overgrown fields and other areas of tall grass and weeds. Those are prime spots for ticks, and your pet is just the right height to attract them as it runs through. Make sure to give your pets the same thorough tick check you give yourself once you’re back inside.

Home Security
Some easy checks of your front and back yards can help keep mosquitoes and ticks away from your home. Any place where standing water can accumulate will breed mosquitoes, and anywhere close to tall grass, bushes, or wooded areas can attract ticks. Choose to play in clear, dry areas, and remember the bug spray!

Thompson Brothers has been providing pest control services in South Carolina and Western North Carolina for nearly 60 years. For information on how to avoid mosquitoes and ticks, or to learn more about our South Carolina pest control services, give us a call at 828.245.2669. We look forward to hearing from you!