Never Get Stung Again! 6 Tips to Avoid Insect Bites and Stings
Updated: Mar. 28, 2023‘Tis the season of barbecues and bare feet. Unfortunately, it’s also the season of bug bites and bee stings. Be proactive this season and keep the pesky critters at bay.
Avoid Perfume and Sweet-Smelling Beauty Products
Insects flock to flowers, so is it any wonder they’re attracted to fragrant skin, clothes and hair as well? If you’re planning to spend time outdoors, opt for fragrance-free beauty products and skip the perfume or cologne. If you don’t mind smelling downright unappealing, some folks swear that eating pungent garlic or onions actually repels mosquitoes and other insects. Wearing less repellent isn’t all you can do to protect yourself. These smart devices ward off bugs.
Wear Muted Colors
Unfortunately for those whose sartorial style tends toward the flamboyant, brightly colored clothes with loud patterns or flowers and sparkly or colorful jewelry attract stinging and biting insects such as bees, wasps, and mosquitoes. Avoid the annoying critters by dressing in earth tones or muted colors instead. Want to try a breezy white ensemble? Don’t miss these 11 natural bug repellents worth trying.
Keep an Eye on Your Cup
The last thing you want to do is swallow something that can sting you. Insects love sweet beverages, so be sure to look before you sip at picnics, barbecues and other outdoor soirees. A quick hack? Hand each guest a cupcake liner to put over their glass (and poke a straw through the “lid”). Check out these other cheapskate handy hints for the outdoors.
Go Barefoot at Your Own Risk
Bees hover around low-growing clover and yellow jackets actually live in the ground. Keep those tender feet safe from stingers by wearing shoes on grassy fields or lawns.
Watch Out for Hives and Nests
This may sound obvious, but beehives and wasp nests are often anything but. Insects tend to build their hives in nooks and crannies, like beneath the eave of a roof, under a gutter or in the crook of a tree branch. Clean, garden, clip and mow with caution! Here’s how to deter bees and wasps (and identify which is which).
Remain Calm
This old chestnut bears repeating. When you do come in contact with a stinging or biting insect, making sudden movements or trying to shoo away the offender is the last thing you should do. Instead, slowly and calmly moving away from the insect is the safest way to avoid being bitten or stung. Here are 10 easy home remedies for bug bites.
