Mosquitos and other insects get in the way of enjoying summer outdoor activities as well as posing a health risk. Citronella, derived from different species of lemongrass, has long been used an insect repellant and is recognized as a non-toxic biopesticide by the EPA. But citronella is not always the best choice. For example, OFF Clip-on insect repellent is odorless and works without applying directly to skin.

An article we found, How to Choose an Insect Repellent does a good job explaining the pros and cons of different types of insect repellents.

Here are some tips to help you prevent mosquitoes:

Eliminate Excess Water in your Yard (i.e. planters, feeders, etc). Mosquitoes breed in standing water, without water mosquitoes cannot reproduce.
Trim Back Vegetation – Mosquitoes feast on plant nectar when they aren’t prowling for blood, so they spend a lot of time in tall grasses or around shrubs and bushes.

Ticks

With mid-May to August being the primary season for ticks, we’re now right in the middle of it. Tiny parasites, ticks feed on the blood of humans and animals. There are more than 850 species of ticks, many of which can carry disease including Lyme Disease.

Deer ticks in their younger stage are about the size of a poppy seed and are the main source of transmitting Lyme Disease. Typically, the likelihood of transmission from a tick to a person increases the longer the tick is attached. Because these ticks are small and their bite is usually painless, they can go unnoticed. Ticks live in moist and humid environments, particularly in or near wooded or grassy areas. You may come into contact with ticks during outdoor activities around your home or when walking through leaf litter or near shrubs. Always walk in the center of trails in order to avoid contact with ticks.

The best way to AVOID getting bitten by a tick:

• Stay out of heavily wood areas and tall grasses
• Wear long sleeves and light colored clothing so you can spot them easier
• Use bug spray containing DEET or Permethrin
• Inspect areas that are prone after an afternoon in the woods. Ticks like warm areas such as arm pits, groin and in your hair.
• After spending time outdoors, ticks may linger on clothing; make sure to send your clothes through the dryer to ensure ticks don’t crawl on to home surfaces and bite anyone unexpectedly.