Yes, it's that time of year. It's warming up, and you are spending more time in your own backyard and parks. After this crazy winter, it is a welcomed change. But wait, wait! The bugs and critters are out, too.

We are graced with mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, ants, chiggers, bees, spiders, and hornets. These are a few of the insects we have to live with and tolerate. The one problem with these citizens is that they bite and sting. So how can you tell if you have gotten bitten by a bug, which offender did it, and what can you do to get relief? Here are a few tips:

• Mosquito Bites: These nasty insects will leave a welt on your arm that itches and itches, and itches. Make a paste of Vinegar or Lemon Juice and baking soda. Apply to the bite. Also ice the area. You can also try Aloe Vera gel, a poultice of peppermint leaves, a wet tea bag, inside of a banana peel or a lemon slice applied to the bite. If you don't leave the bite mark alone it can get infected. Sometime I just slap the welt and tell it to behave so I don't have to scratch it!
• Flea Bites: These bites are so bothersome. You can get them from your animals and even just by walking out in your grass. Don't think if you have one you don't have fleas. If you have bites, you have millions!!! Flea bites usually show up first around your ankles and below your knees. They are tiny welt with a scabby center. You can test your house by putting you open hand on the floor or carpet and they will jump on your hand. Home remedies to soothe or relieve itching from flea bites include ice packs, Aloe Vera, witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, tea tree oil, and used tea bags. Over-the-counter anti-itch creams and antihistamines can also be used. Try not to scratch the area, because that can also lead to infection.
• Chigger Bites: If you picked berries in the raspberry patch, you probably got chigger bites. Unless the sun was baking, the least bit of humidity would bring the invisible insects out in hoards. Their armies live in grasses and can't wait to find a human. Luckily with chiggers, there is no risk of disease and the itch can be treated with over-the-counter medication. I have painted on clear nail polish on the bites for years to relieve itching.
• No-See-Um Bites: These nasty bugs remind me a lot of chiggers. I don't think I have ever seen one and I am most familiar with them on the sandy beaches of Florida. But alas, I do think they are on my patio. After a short time of reflection early evening on my stone patio, my legs want to run off because they itch so badly. Of course, you can't see the culprit. They leave tiny pinkish/red dots all along your feet and legs. Some home remedies to try are the application of underarm deodorant to the bite, wiping the bite with rubbing alcohol, or applying toothpaste to the affected area. Also, mixing baking soda with water to make a paste and rubbing it onto the bite can relieve the itch or applying Aloe Vera gel. Ice and very cold water are immediate and safe ways to soothe the skin.
• Tick Bites: A tick bite can be just as scary as some poisonous spider bites. Ticks love the woods and will hop a ride on humans and dogs. The best way to handle a tick bite is to remove the tick as soon as you spot it using tweezers. If you have ever had a tick bite, you will know the phenomenon that if they just bit you, they are small and then they keep swelling as they suck your blood. After you have removed the tick, wash the area with warm soap and water. If the bite is irritated, apply some antibiotic ointment. Home remedies include holding a slice of onion on the bite, apply a meat tenderizer poultice, or apply apple cider vinegar and water on a cotton swab. Ticks are the source for Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever so take precautions. Consult a doctor or veterinarian if needed.
• Finally the Bee, Wasp, or Yellow Jacket Bite (Sting): The bites most of us one time or another have suffered. They leave a swollen welt with a stinger mark in the center. When treating, be sure the stinger is removed. Apply baking soda paste, a dab of pure honey, apple cider vinegar, or even toothpaste has been said to be effective. If there is a catastrophic reaction to the sting like swelling and/or trouble breathing, use an epipen or go to the hospital. It is important that you find out your allergy level to bee stings. They can be deadly.*

I hope this lesson in bug bites does not deter you from enjoying the great outdoors. It should give you pause for when you go out the door that you apply a trusty bug repellent. Applying a repellent to you and your loved ones can only enhance your outdoor experience. I keep a several cans of insect repellent by my back door as a reminder to armor up. Don't let these little bugs curb your enjoyment of Mother Nature.

*Be sure to consult a physician if you have any complications of a bite