The weather is really heating up and so is the bug activity in Alberta! Bugs that love to nibble on us are rampant during the hot summer months, but just because the wasps, horseflies and mosquitoes are out doesn’t mean we should hide away from the sunshine! Would you believe us if we told you that all the relief you need from these pesky bugs might already be in your home?
Wasps
They love our sugary patio drinks and can make a group of adults scatter at the sound of their alarming buzzing! If you’ve tangled and lost with a hornet or a wasp, apply apple cider vinegar to the bite to lessen the swelling. The acidity of the vinegar will counteract the alkaline of the bite and give you some much-needed relief. If you happen to mess with a yellowjacket though, don’t use vinegar! Using a mix of baking soda and water or a slice of ginger directly on the bite will work in a pinch! Before you use any concoctions, be sure to remove a stinger if they’ve been so kind to leave you one!
Horseflies
These buggers pack a nasty bite and the biggest concern with a horsefly bite is the risk of infection. Immediately wash the affected area with gentle soap and water using a clean cotton towel and this is actually the best way to help the bite! Try your best not to scratch as that will just increase your risk of possible infection and don’t use anything other than soap and water as alkaline or acid won’t help much. Use a cold pack to ease pain and swelling too! If the itching and swelling persist, go to a walk-in as you might need to be prescribed antibiotics.
Mosquitoes
While wasps, hornets and horsefly bites and stings definitely hurt the most, mosquitoes are absolutely more irritating. The itching, swelling bites can be relieved with a paste of baking soda and water applied directly to the area and the alkalinity will even give a bit of a cooling sensation. Honey is full of anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and a drop on a mosquito bite will alleviate swelling and smells lovely too! If you’ve happened to have a cup of chamomile tea recently and haven’t tossed the bag, run it under a little cold water and apply it for speedier healing and to help with inflammation!
No matter how you decide to enjoy your summer this year, make sure you know how to easily alleviate these common bug bites to make it that much sweeter. But if you’re faced with an onslaught of bugs that just don’t seem to quit, give us a call at 403.262.1666. We’ll help you with any potential infestations so you can enjoy as bug-free of a summer as possible!
