In New York, the bulk of ticks: 5 effective ways to protect against these insects

This year in New York more ticks than usual in summer... Through the bites of these bloodsuckers, a person becomes infected with dangerous microorganisms that cause, among other things, the dangerous Lyme disease. The insidiousness of these bites is also in the fact that you may not even notice how and when it happened, says Well and good... Therefore, it is worth making an effort to avoid tick bites - this is the most effective way to protect yourself from dangerous diseases. In this article, we offer five effective ways to protect yourself from these insects.

“A common misconception about ticks is that you can feel the bite,” said David Price, a board-certified entomologist. - Not at all. Ticks release an anesthetic that makes the animals they bite are unaware that they are being bitten or feed on. Although these parasites are most common in late spring and early summer, ticks can be active throughout the year, including winter, if temperatures are above freezing.

How, according to entomologists, to deal with ticks

1. Use insect repellent

“For ticks, I always recommend that my friends and family use insect repellents such as“ OFF! ” They either contain the active ingredients DEET or picaridin, noted entomologist Tom Mascari. "The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using insect repellent containing 20 percent or more DEET for protection on exposed skin and / or clothing."

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If you want an option without DEET ingredients, the scientist recommends using “OFF!”: “This is a protective insect repellent with picaridin. No matter what kind of insect repellant you are using, be sure to read the instructions and strictly follow them! Each product protects for a certain period of time, depending on the amount of active ingredients, ”said Dr. Mascari.

2. Wear appropriate clothing

“When it comes to preventing ticks, the first thing you need to know is where these parasites usually occur. These can be forest areas, piles of wood, tall grass and weeds, - explains the entomologist. "If you are going to be in an area where these arthropods are likely to live, in addition to using insect repellent, you need to wear a long-sleeved shirt and long trousers, tucked into socks so that the skin is covered with clothes."

For hikers, Dr. Mascari recommends walking along the paths to reduce the likelihood of contact with ticks.

3. Take care of the yard

For those who have a lawn near their home, David Price recommends cutting it regularly, it is also worth cutting tall grass on the site, small trees and bushes.

“This way you will reduce the area where the ticks live - depriving them of the ability to wait for a person or animal to pass by, to which they can cling,” he explains.

Contrary to popular belief, he said, ticks don't actually jump: “Instead, they crawl patiently, clinging to tall grass or bushes, and wait. As soon as they sense carbon dioxide and heat signatures, they immediately attack their prey. "

4. Create a barrier between you and the ticks

As a reminder, these parasites cannot jump - they just wait for an opportunity to catch on. Therefore, to reduce the migration of mites into your yard, Price recommends laying a three-foot (about 90 cm) strip of mulch or gravel between the lawn near your yard and any green area in the yard.

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“Use products containing a mixture of essential oils, in particular geraniol and / or cedar, virginia oil (tobacco variety. - Ed.) - ticks cannot stand them. Many of these products have proven to be reliable against these parasites, ”the entomologist recommends.

5. Beware of tick-carrying animals

If you store firewood in your yard, make sure it is neatly stacked in a dry place to prevent field mice from breeding there.

“Field mice and small rodents are the main vectors of ticks. They usually carry Borrelia burgdorferi, which is the causative agent of Lyme disease, ”the specialist explained.

While deer are cute animals and possums are great for making memes, alas, they are second only to rodents to help ticks migrate into your yard, Price emphasizes. Therefore, stay away from these animals, as well as raccoons and foxes.

And do not forget to treat your pets with anti-tick drugs to avoid getting these insects on them.