10-4 Magazine / August 2026 47 Health & Happiness: By Norma Stephens Hannigan Someone once said, “Nature is a master artist, and insects are its finest brushstrokes.” Summer is here and insects are out in full force. Bees, hornets, and wasps are everywhere, and generally only hurt us when they perceive that we want to hurt them. Mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks, on the other hand, need our blood to live. Interestingly, only female mosquitoes bite people. They need proteins in blood to reproduce. Since mosquitoes are looking for blood, people with more blood, like overweight people and pregnant women, are more likely to be bitten. The colors red, orange and black tend to attract insects, and it appears that skin odor, sweat, and warmth may encourage mosquitoes, fleas and ticks to bite. Mosquitoes track you by the enticing carbon dioxide you exhale – if you have alcohol on board or are dehydrated (alcohol will dehydrate you), these pests may seek you out even more. It would be one thing if mosquitoes were just annoying, but they can be downright deadly. While they are sucking your blood, they can inject germs into your blood at the same time. The best known of the mosquito-borne illnesses is malaria. We don’t worry so much about malaria in the US, although there were eight cases in 2023 in Florida and Texas acquired from local mosquitoes. If you are traveling to countries where it is prevalent, you could be infected. Malaria can kill within 24 hours, so prompt diagnosis and treatment are necessary. There have been recent increases in infections such as Zika virus, West Nile Virus and Dengue Fever in the US over several decades, believed to be related to climate change. Zika virus causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads. West Nile Virus mostly affects the brain and nervous system, and Dengue fever, which is not usually life threatening but is very uncomfortable with severe headaches and rashes, are seen every year now. Ticks are another source of infection through the same mechanism. They attach to the skin, where they can remain for days while feeding. There are at least 16 diseases that are transmitted by different types of ticks, and a person can have more than one infection at a time. Perhaps the best-known one is Lyme Disease, which has been found in every state, but is still most prevalent in the northeastern part of the US. It can affect the joints and heart and cause health issues for many years. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is seen more out in the western US. This year, however, the Powassan virus is being seen more in the US and can be deadly within a short time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more people are now at risk for alpha-gal syndrome, the red-meat allergy triggered by lone star ticks. The most serious problems with flea bites are plague (yes, the plague!) and typhus. These are mostly found in the western US. They are not seen frequently, and antibiotics can cure these diseases, but they must be diagnosed quickly with treatment started immediately. While it isn’t possible to list all the signs and symptoms for these diseases here, they share common complaints like headache, chills, fever, rash, nausea and vomiting, and confusion. The CDC website (www.cdc.gov) has all the information you need about these illnesses. Bees, wasps, and hornets do not carry infectious diseases, but the place where you are stung could get infected with bacteria on your skin if not disinfected well enough afterward. Try to get the stinger out as quickly as possible – the longer it stays, the more venom (yes, it’s really called venom!) gets into your body. It is normal for there to be pain and mild itching in the area where you are stung – if the area becomes enlarged and very red, that could indicate an allergic reaction. More serious allergic reaction will cause hives – raised red bumps all over the body – severe itching, sometimes nausea and vomiting, and most seriously, difficulty breathing. This is an emergency! People who have severe allergies (anaphylaxis) to stinging insects are advised to always carry epinephrine injection pens (Epi-pen) with them to stop the progression to breathing problems, which can be fatal. In the case of all these insects, cover your arms and legs as much as possible. If you live in a place where there are ticks, check yourself (and get someone else to check you in places you can’t see) after you’ve been outside for any ticks that may have attached to your skin. They will stay attached for a few days, giving them ample opportunity to infect you. The sooner you get them off, the less risk of getting a disease. As you know, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Using insect repellent on your skin and clothes, available in just about every pharmacy or supermarket, helps keep the mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas away so they can’t bite you in the first place. If you are traveling in places where malaria is present, there are medicines you can start taking before you leave to prevent an infection – mosquito netting over your bed is very important, as well as using insect repellent often. Tread lightly if you are around a hive – stinging insects won’t usually bother you if you don’t bother them. If you see stinging insects in your vicinity, move slowly. Do not try to slap them away because they will get agitated and go after you even more aggressively. Each living thing serves a purpose, as mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks serve as food for birds, fish, and mammals in winter. We need bees to pollinate plants. Learning to coexist is an important part of keeping the balance. Here’s wishing you a safe, insect-friendly summer on the road! n INSECT STINGS AND BITES
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