1. (NU) - Sunny summer days
are meant for outdoor fun, but
few things ruin time outside more
quickly than bites from pests. In-
sect bites can result in conse-
quences that range from minor,
yet aggravating, irritation to ex-
treme pain and even potentially
fatal illnesses. If you are on the
receiving end of a bite, it is im-
portant to detect which pest in-
flicted it so you can determine the
best course of treatment, as well
as investigate whether there is a
pest problem on your property
that warrants a call to your local
pest control company.
The National Pest Manage-
ment Association (NPMA) offers
the following information on how
to identify the culprits of three
common summertime bites:
Mosquitoes
A mosquito bite typically re-
sults in a red, itchy bump on the
skin. Despite the temptation to
scratch, doing so agitates the ven-
om and increases the itchiness of
the bite.All bites should be washed
with soap and water, and the best
remedies are antihistamines and
anti-inflammatories. Anyone ex-
periencing fever, head or body
aches, skin rashes or swollen
lymph glands following a bite
could have been infected with po-
tentially fatal West Nile virus and
should seek medical attention.
Ticks
Because of their small size,
blacklegged deer tick bites fre-
quently go unnoticed. However,
these tiny pests are vectors of
Lyme disease, and the earlier you
can identify a bite from a Lyme-
infected tick, the sooner you can
begin the necessary antibiotic
treatments.According to the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Pre-
vention (CDC), a circular bulls-
eye rash appears within 3-30 days
of the bite in approximately 70-
80 percent of infected persons.
Anyone who develops this char-
acteristic rash should seek med-
ical attention as soon as possible.
Red Imported Fire Ants
Red imported fire ants are an
aggressive species capable of
stinging and injecting venom with
their bites, causing an intense
burning sensation. Red bumps
form at the sting, and within a day
or two they become white fluid-
filled pustules. While the bites and
stings are often excruciating,
medical attention is typically only
necessary for those who are se-
verely allergic to the venom.
If you are repeatedly experi-
encing issues with these pests on
your property or are concerned
for the health and safety of your
family, contact a local pest
control company to evaluate
the problem and determine the
best course of treatment. Find
a qualified pest control profes-
sional at PestWorld.org.
What Type of Bug
Bite Is That?
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NewsUSA
How to identify the culprit of
summertime bug bites.
NewsUSA