Spending time together outdoors is good for the whole family. Just don’t let bug bites ruin your fun.
The Basics: Overview
Most bug bites are harmless, but some mosquitoes and ticks carry diseases.
- You can get serious diseases from mosquitoes, like Zika, West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), and dengue (“DEN-gee”) fever.
- Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are just 2 of the serious diseases you can get from ticks.
The good news is that you can take steps to protect yourself and your family from mosquito and tick bites.
Protect yourself from mosquitoes and ticks.
- When you spend time outside, take these steps to protect yourself:
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks to cover your skin.
- Use bug repellent (also called bug spray or insect repellent) on your skin and clothing.
- Check everyone for ticks after spending time outside.
Take a shower after being outside to help wash away ticks.
Protect your pets, too.
- Use a veterinarian-approved tick collar or spot-on repellent on your pets. Dogs and cats need different tick control medicines, so make sure to get the right one.
- Remember to check your pets for ticks.
Take Action!
Follow these tips to avoid getting bites from mosquitoes and ticks.
Keep mosquitoes away from your home.
Many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing (still) water. To help keep mosquitoes away:
- Empty water from unused or forgotten items (like old tires, buckets, or toys) in your yard. Turn them upside down so water can’t collect in them.
- Don’t let water sit in the bases of flower pots.
- Change the water in your kids’ wading pool at least once a week. Be sure to store the pool on its side.
- Use screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside. Repair any holes in the screens.
Keep ticks away from your home
Many types of ticks live in areas with woods, bushes, or high grass. Animals like mice, dogs and deer may also carry ticks in their fur. To help keep ticks away from your home:
- Clear bushes, tall grasses, and fallen leaves from around your home. Mow the lawn often.
- Use wood chips or gravel to separate your patio or play equipment from wooded or brushy areas.
- Remove plants that attract deer, and put up a fence to keep deer out of your yard.
- Consider applying tick control products to your yard. You can do this yourself or hire a pest control company.
Use bug (insect) repellent
Bug repellent makes it harder for mosquitoes and ticks to find you.
What type of repellent do I need?
- To avoid tick and mosquito bites, use a spray or lotion with 20 to 30 percent DEET. Check the label.
- You can also look for repellents with 20 to 30 percent picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535 to avoid mosquito bites.
- It’s a good idea to use sunscreen when you are outside, but get a separate sunscreen lotion. Don’t use bug repellent that has sunscreen already mixed in.
- Use a spray with permethrin on your clothes, shoes, and camping gear to repel and kill ticks. Never use permethrin directly on your skin.
How do I use bug (insect) repellent?
- Apply sunscreen first, then put on bug repellent.
- Spray it on your clothes or on exposed skin before you go outside.
- Don’t spray repellent directly on your face. Instead, use your hands to carefully rub it on your face. You can also use wipes that contain bug repellent to protect your face.
- Don’t use repellent on babies under 2 months old.
- Wash repellent off skin with soap and water when you go inside.
–Heathfinder.gov