We have had an early spring and the bugs are out in droves already. Bugs are an important, contributing part of our ecosystem that support the balance of Nature.
We use the term “bugs” loosely and it is generally acceptable to communicate what we mean. Bugs are actually a subset of insects. To be a bug, an insect must have a specialized top pair of wings and a beak or straw-like mouth that is used for piercing and sucking. Examples of bugs are aphids and stink bugs. Because the term “bug” is used so commonly to mean insects, sometimes scientists use the term “true bugs” to indicate that particular classification. Now you know.
Bugs have many benefits to our ecosystem. A big benefit, of course, is the pollination by bees, moths, flies, beetles, and butterflies that is essential for our food supply. We often don’t think about this benefit, but bugs are responsible for decomposing old life – plant and animal – to nourish and aerate the soil providing the base for new life to form.
But there are some bugs that just “bug” us and a few of them can even be dangerous to us. Maybe you are the kind of person who captures a spider in a glass jar to safely escort it outside, but every once in a while we want to keep certain bugs away from us. We can do this in a way that is natural and non-toxic.
DIY Insect Repellent…pick one and keep it on hand…and on other parts of your body!
Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent
- 1 part lemon eucalyptus oil
- 10 parts sunflower or other carrier oil of your choice. Spritz or rub it on your skin.
Lemon Eucalyptus Oil has been touted as a natural insect repellent for decades. It even has the backing of the Center for Disease Control [CDC] as an effective ingredient in insect repellents.
Lavender Essential Oil Repellent
- Drop some lavender essential oil on a clean cloth and rub it on your skin. Lavender is one of the few essential oils you can directly apply to skin. Always check a small spot on your skin first.
- Try growing lavender around your home to keep mosquitoes away. Grab a few sprigs of lavender and crush/rub them on your skin to keep the “skeeters” away and to smell good.
Citronella – DIY Mosquito Repellent
- 2 tablespoons neem seed oil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
- 10-15 drops of citronella essential oil
Rub sparingly onto exposed skin. Do not use neem seed oil if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, as it is an abortifacient. Recipe from Attainable-Sustainable
Tick…Tick..Tick…Tick Off!
From being bugged to being ticked. Ticks are not only bothersome, they are dangerous and some carry a bacterium that can result in Lyme Disease which is difficult to treat and cure. Prevention is the way to go.
Lyme disease has flu like symptoms and may show up anywhere from 3-30 days after being infected. At the site of the bite you may see a circular red spot.
Length of attachment of the tick is correlated to the likelihood of infection. According to the CDC, black-legged ticks must be attached for 24 hours to transmit the disease. So check yourself and your pets regularly after being outside. But be careful–I tried to remove what I thought was a tick on my back. I could not see it well and it wound up being a small mole. Ouch. Live and learn.
There are a lot of great recipes for tick preventative here. Geranium Oil comes up time and time again for DIY recipes to prevent tick bites. Here is one recipe:
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil or almond oil
- 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
- 30 to 40 drops geranium essential oil
Mix it well and use an eye dropper to apply the mixture to your skin and rub it in. You can also apply two to three drops to your dog’s collar to repel ticks.
And once you find a tick? Try this:
Use small tweezers and grab the tick as close to the mouth as you can. Do not grab the swollen belly. For a written instructions, go to WebMD.
Or check out this video – University of Manitoba tick expert Kateryn Rochon explains the proper way to remove a tick.
P.S. – You might also consider a product called “tick twister“. It has mostly gotten rave reviews on Amazon.com but I have not had an opportunity to test it myself yet – guess that’s a good thing!
Sulphur powder is an excellent product for keeping chiggers off. Mix with unscented body powder (about half of each) and put about a cup in an old sock. Tie the sock and hit it gently on ankles, legs, waist, etc on your clothes.
Thanks Kay. I am a chigger magnet and the itchy, painful bumps linger for several days all summer. Will try your recipe.