The summer is the ideal season to spend time outside. Unfortunately, there are insects out there ready to prey on any unsuspecting soul. Their bites not only cause itching and irritation, a major distraction from your fun activities, but they are also hazardous to your long term health, especially if you don’t address them immediately.
To help keep you safe, here are three bugs you need to look out for during the hot season. Not only will avoiding them help you keep on enjoying your summer, but it’ll also keep you safe!
Mosquitoes
There’s no denying, summertime is mosquito time. They’re there almost as soon as you leave your house, ready to pounce on you and suck your blood. While some mosquito bites are relatively harmless, causing itchy bumps to appear on your skin, many of the bites from the 3,000 known types of mosquitos will do more than just bug you. Many mosquitos are known disease carriers and can transmit diseases such as malaria, Zika, West Nile virus, chikungunya, and more. Want to protect yourself? Check out our blog post on mosquitos in Maryland.
Ticks
These arachnids particularly enjoy hanging out in tall grasses and bushes while they wait for people or animals to brush by their hiding spot. Once they land on your, they’ll look for a suitable spot to attach. Using scissor-like points, they pierce the skin and then force a suction tube into the hole. They then feast on the host’s blood, potentially infecting the host with diseases.
Different types of ticks transmit different diseases. For example, the black-legged and Western black-legged varieties carry the infamous Lyme disease, and the Lone Star tick carries Alpha-gal allergy. Visit our blog post, for ways to protect yourself from ticks.
Triatomine Bugs (Kissing Bugs)
Don’t let the Triatomine’s lovely nickname fool you, the last thing you want is this disease-carrying bug to kiss you! As a matter of fact, they hold this name from feeding on blood from around the eyes and mouths’ of sleeping humans.
Their biggest weapon: their feces. It often transmits the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease that can cause heart failure, stroke, arrhythmia, and sudden death. Although Maryland residents are at a low risk in contracting the disease (only 2 species of kissing bugs are in Maryland) here are some facts about them:
Know your bug
- Kissing bugs are about 0.7 inches long.
- Kissing bugs are dark brown or black with red or orange spots along the edge of their bodies.
- They like to hide in cracks and holes in beds, floors, walls, and furniture.
Look out for signs of an infestation
- If you have bug bites around your mouth, you could have kissing bugs.
- Look for tiny bloodstains on your sheets and pillows, where they might be hiding.
Protect Yourself
- Triatomine bugs love small spaces and cracks to lay their eggs, so seal any gaps between the openings of your house and fill any holes in your walls.
- Let your pets sleep inside; but not in your bedroom. Keep their sleeping areas clean.
Don’t hesitate to call us
If you get bitten by any of these insects, it’s best to consult a medical professional immediately. And if you see any of these dangerous insects around your house or yard, be sure to call a professional to get help. We’re happy to assess the risk and mitigate any infestations you may be experiencing.