Summer is here and with it the beetles. But don’t let them turn your sunny adventures into an itchy nightmare. Whether it’s ticks lurking in the steppe, mosquitoes destroying your backyard barbecue, or bed bugs infesting your travels, these little troublemakers can quickly ruin your vacation. Here’s how to avoid struggling through the season with our fail-safe guide.
Ixodes (tick)
Favorite hangout
The steppe, especially where it is warm and humid – such as on the east coast. “Ticks sit on blades of grass or leaves and wait for animals or people to pass by so they can cling to them,” says entomologist Dr. David Merritt.
Signs that you have been bitten
You will find a tick in your bits. Seriously. “Often people don’t realize they’ve been bitten until they scratch an area and find a tick,” Merritt says. Favorite eating areas: hairline, armpits and groin. Symptoms may include an unsteady gait, weakness in the limbs, multiple skin rashes, headache, fever, flu-like symptoms, and partial facial paralysis.
Avoid eating lunch
In the steppe, wear tight clothing, such as leggings, rather than loose clothing.
Relieve the itching
Get it out! It is important to completely remove the tick because its head can continue to release toxins even after the body is removed.
Culicidae (mosquito)
Favorite hangout
Mosquitoes love to live near water – because that’s where the suckers breed. “Always empty pots and containers around your home after it rains, otherwise mosquitoes will set up camp,” warns Merritt.
Signs that you have been bitten
A bite is red, raised and itches like hell.
Avoid eating lunch
To protect against insects, use an insect repellent containing DEET – it confuses mosquitoes by blocking their odor receptors. DEET-based repellents keep mosquitoes away for about 300 hours, while citronella-based repellents need to be reapplied every 20 minutes, adds Dr. Adds Pete Vincent from Netcare Travel Clinics, who also advises spraying your clothes with fabric insecticides containing permethrin. If you really don’t like DEET-based repellents, try something natural like the Pure Beginnings Natural Insect Repellent Stick.
Relieve the itching
If you don’t have an OTC cream, Dr. John Murtagh to rub the bite with dry soap. Desperate? Vinegar and saliva can also be helpful.
READ MORE: 6 Ways to Relieve That REALLY Painful Sunburn
Cimex lectularius (bed bug)
Favorite hangout
Mattresses, headboards and carpets in backpackers and dirty hotel rooms.
Signs that you have been bitten
YYou’ll wake up with a cluster of itchy red lumps on your body – they often run in a line as the buggers want to follow your veins.
Avoid eating lunch
Thoroughly check your mattress, bed frame and foundation for bugs – or their little red droppings. “Bed bugs drink blood and of course excrete it,” says Merritt. Ew!
Relieve the itching
Take a cold shower immediately and clean the bites with antiseptic soap to prevent infection, Murtagh recommends. After showering, apply a good old calamine lotion to curb your urge to scratch.
Siphonaptera (flea)
Favorite hangout
Your beloved furry roommates.
Signs that you have been bitten
Small, red, itchy bumps, grouped in groups of about three or more.
Avoid eating lunch
Use a flea comb to check your pet’s skin at least once a month, recommends Murtagh. If you find fleas, be sure to use a vet-recommended topical treatment. At least with your pet. PS: Never use a dog flea treatment on your cat or vice versa as the ingredients vary and can be fatal if used on the wrong animal.
Relieve the itching
If you are the one scratching, contact your pharmacist for cortisone cream (you may need a prescription). To ensure you’ve removed the critters from your home, then do a hot wash on all laundry and treat your carpets with a DIY fumigation bomb.
