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A Bug's Bite
You don’t have to let pesky insects ruin your backyard barbecue or nature hike. Here are a few ways to prevent your next family outing from turning into a mosquito happy hour.
Avoid scented soaps. Sweet-smelling or overly perfumed soaps attract bugs like, well, flies to honey! Perfumes, or other popular body sprays also attract mosquitoes and other pests, and should be avoided.
Don’t advertise. Many insects are drawn to the bright colors and floral prints that are summer fashion mainstays. This is because those styles mimic the flowers and blooms that insects seek out in nature. Dressing your children in lighter colors (i.e., tan, khaki or green) is a good way to steer clear of unwanted insect attention.
Be repellent. Say “shoo fly” by lighting a few insect-repelling citronella candles in the backyard.
Know your bug spray. Insect repellents containing the active ingredient DEET are most effective for keeping bugs off your kids; DEET concentration levels, however, vary greatly from product to product. A concentration of 30% has proved to be the most effective and is the maximum concentration approved for children and infants. Remember, bug sprays containing DEET are not recommended for children younger than two months.
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