If you’ve been holed up indoors for a long winter spell, getting outside and absorbing all summer has to offer is probably high on your list of awesome things to do. Longer days mean even more time for exploring, camping, fishing, or just taking a stroll through a quiet forest. But, along with people, your not-so-friendly neighborhood insects are taking advantage of the seasonal change as well. Let’s take a look at how you can safely go about identifying and avoiding dangerous insects.
Ticks
Ticks range in size from a grain of sand to an apple seed. A deer tick nymph will look like a poppy seed on your skin. Checking yourself or your companions frequently can help reduce the chances of a tick getting a good latch on you. Deer ticks carry Lyme disease so the sooner you get them off, the better.
Ticks don’t fly or jump, they crawl up. They prefer the skin near your head and ears and will climb to get there. Wearing clothes that cover your legs can help keep ticks off of you and there is even tick repellent clothing available at many retailers.
Spiders
Most spiders don’t want to be bothered and don’t want to bother you. You are not food. But, disturb their habitat and they might just give you a chomp for your trouble. Learn to recognize the types of spiders in your area, or the area you are visiting.
Not all spiders will be out in the open in a big web. Brown recluse spiders like to hide under logs and other debris, or in caves and other dark places. Be wary of where you’re putting your hands. Wear gloves when gathering wood from a wood pile. You don’t know what may have moved in since that wood was stacked! The bite of a brown recluse is not painful and may go unnoticed until symptoms appear, usually within 2-8 hours.
Black widow spiders like to hide out under rocks and logs as well. The bite of the female (renowned for its red hourglass marking) is poisonous while that of the male is not. These species are generally not aggressive unless threatened. If you are bitten by either one of these spiders, you should seek immediate medical attention
Centipedes
Another insect that likes to hide out under rocks is the centipede. They stay hidden during the day and are active at night. Their bites are not dangerous but can be extremely painful. If you pick them up, you are likely to get an unpleasant surprise in return.
Overall, using caution when getting your camping and hiking gear out of storage, wearing proper clothing outdoors, and being careful when reaching into or walking into dark places, can go a long way in preventing any painful or, at the very least, terrifying insect encounters.
