Karen's Corner: Bug Bites?

Karen, a black woman with grey hair wearing glasses and a pink headband, is smiling at the camera. She's wearing a maroon tshirt and jean jacket

Karen is a regular reviewer and blogger for Day Undefined. In her series, "Karen's Corner," she invites you to join in her love of gardening and other hobbies and shares her tips for making them more accessible. 

 

Bug Bites? I'm stopping by with a few quick tips to keep those pesky bugs away from you.

In addition to mosquitos sometimes being fierce where I live, I was once bitten by a tiny Midge Fly in my eye, which necessitated a trip to the emergency room. I had lived here 15 years and never encountered one. The ER doctor could see where a tiny chunk had been bitten out of my eyeball. It was painful and my eyelid was  swollen for several days. I had been just sitting, enjoying my container garden at the front door.

Here is an article about them, but you can find many others on your own.  https://www.healthline.com/health/fly-bites#biting-midges


How to Be Proactive and Avoid Insect Bites and Stings

  1. Remove any standing water from the area. If you have a water fountain, consider using these ‘mosquito dunks” which will kill mosquito larvae, but  are non-toxic and will not harm birds or plants. They can be found on Amazon or at most home improvement stores.
  2. Wear light color clothing (dark clothing attracts biting flies!) and a hat with protective netting, if desired. (I found my mosquito hat on Amazon for less than $10.) This mosquito hat on Amazon is currently around $14, but keep your eyes peeled for sales.
  3. Burn mosquito repellant incense sticks. These "Murphy's Naturals Mosquito Repellent Incense Sticks" last up to 2.5 hours and come in a variety of scents (another Amazon find).
A green box that says in white: Murphy's Mosquito Repellent Incense Sticks. Rosemary, Peppermint, Citronella, Lemongrass, Cedarwood. 8 Sticks, among other information
 
4. Before going into the garden, mix a few drops of Tea Tree oil with a teaspoon of your favorite body lotion and apply anywhere you have exposed skin. It will repel mosquitos, gnats, and flies. Here's a photo of my Tea Tree Essential Oil:
Small glass container (100ml) of Tea Tree Essential Oil

Enjoy your garden!

Karen

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Have you tried any of these tips? Do you have questions! We'd love to hear from you. Comment below! 

 

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