So, do you want to go wild camping in Corsica or explore the beautiful Mojave desert in spring? You should be aware of the different types of insects you may encounter.
Speaking of the wilderness and those beasts who live there, you must locate a balance. Opt for a simple caution supported by an awareness of wildlife and which types (of bugs) can cause harm and even death. 11 bugs to worry about when camping – safe camping tips are found below!
Much of people’s fear or neglect of nature comes from unawareness. Do you believe the woods are nice like Bambi? Or perhaps you believe that everything is out to kill you? Whether the occasion, you won’t be able to enjoy your time. Let’s take a look at some dangerous and annoying bugs out there.
This will be valuable so you get an understanding of what the reality of the wilderness is. Also, this will help you become aware of how to properly protect yourself and avoid potentially dangerous bugs. These bugs are bees, wasps, spiders, hornets, horse flies, and many more!
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11 Bugs to Worry About When Camping – Safe Camping
Summer signifies more camping, hiking, and just naturally soaking up the sunlight. Warm temperatures surely bring joy for some. But this also indicates more encounters with some not-so-welcoming guests, such as insects or snakes crawling in your sleeping bag at night.
Watch out for these typical bugs, biters, and stingers who can hold deadly infections, inject harmful venom, and inflict terrible pain on their victims. Here’s the list of 11 bugs to worry about when camping:
#1 Ticks
There’s not a single person on the planet who did not hear about Lyme disease, that ticks spread. However, it’s safe to say that ticks even spread other agonizing illnesses like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Heartland virus, as well as the Possawan virus.
Yes, you can absolutely try to remove the tick right away with clean tweezers. Yet, if you see a tick on you and begin undergoing signs of a tick-borne illness, it’s vitally important to reach your doctor instantly. Do this with any other serious responses to a bug bite.
#2 Kissing Bugs
Located all over the southern United States, these parasitic weird crawlers hold Chagas disease. This is an illness that can make your risk of death a lot more severe and probable. More than 300,000 individuals in the country nowadays live with it, and most don’t even know it yet. This is what the studies have found.
Triatomine bugs – with another name kissing, killer, or vampire bugs – camouflage indoors and out and often bite people while they’re napping or sleeping.
#3 Mosquitoes
It’s not only the awful itchy bites that you absolutely hate. There is something more obscure to this. These vampire-like creatures actually rank as the most lethal animal in the world because they’re disease vectors.
In the United States using insect repellent and shielding your skin will help protect you from West Nile and Zika viruses. This absolutely goes without saying!
#4 Black Widow Spiders
What the black mamba is to the snake family, the black widow is to the spider family. These venomous weavers hang out in woodpiles, barriers, or other places with steady and hidden leftovers. You can identify them by the red dots or hourglass shape that exists beneath the abdomen.
On the report of the CDC, the majority of bites happen when a person accidentally touches a web. The trouble encourages the black widow to attack, releasing a neurotoxic venom into the victim’s skin via two stab marks.
#5 Brown Recluse Spiders
Many people focused on avoiding Rattlesnakes while hiking or camping. But what about these beasts? This is one more spider species you should do your best to notice! You will do that by seeing the brown recluse. Most typical in the Midwest and South, these arachnids hold dark violin-shaped traces behind their heads.
The venom can ruin skin tissue entirely. Be aware to mind the area in log, rock, or leaf piles. The same applies to shady closets, attics, and footwear. These are truly some dangerous beasts.
#6 Chiggers
Chiggers live in grassy and brush-filled locations mostly in the Southeast and Midwest. They’re nearly too small to see, but the larvae can cause outsized pain with their parasitic bites. The best way to get rid of the mites from your yard is by mowing the lawn and pruning the brush.
As for the itchy red bumps, soothe the inflammation with calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream.
#7 Bees and Wasps
When camping, wear neutral colors, and do not wear yellow. Everything that smells sweet or flowery, including food and clothes, attracts bees and wasps. Do not serve sweet food, but if you do, set up a decoy.
It can be pretty dangerous to have bees and wasps around your campsite especially if you are allergic to bee stings. If that is the case, be aware to bring allergy medicine with you.
Important: Bees are one of the most beneficial insects for the environment and we do everything to keep them away but please don’t kill them.
#8 Flies
If you love camping during the Summer months, you’re surely familiar with the fact that flies can be boring and how hard is to keep them away. Flies can have painful bites, contaminate your food, and make an incessant buzzing noise that will drive you nuts.
Avoiding and eliminating them is a big concern for many campers. Flies can carry diseases that can be very bad from stomach problems to fever. They can ruin your vacation.
Here Are Some Tips for Getting Rid of Flies at Your Campsite:
- Use Flypaper
- Do not leave food leftovers
- Use DEET Insect Repellant
- Keep your camping site clean
#9 Hornets
Hornets are even more dangerous than wasps and bees because of their size and venom which is much stronger. All the measures we mentioned above, regarding wasps and bees, apply to them too. If you are bitten by a hornet, you need to wash quickly down the sting with soap and water to clean the wound and then apply ice to tamp swelling.
However, if a person is allergic to a hornet sting, it can cause death due to an anaphylactic reaction (a life-threatening allergic reaction).
It is highly advisable that you always carry an allergy medicine whenever you go on a camping trip.
#10 Ants
Ants may look harmless compared to all the other bugs we mentioned here but they can also be annoying. If you want to keep ants out of your campsite, you must keep your food securely packed, and clean up after cooking or eating.
Try not to leave open or spill drinks around the campsite or in your tent. This will surely help keep them away. Don’t let them be your camping nightmare. So, get a bug net for the hammock or a bug repellent spray!
#11 Horse Flies
We know for a fact that there are hardly any species that are more annoying than biting flies. These can not only ruin your outdoor adventure but can ruin absolutely everything!
These gross bloodsucking deliver some of the most painful bites. This is because of their sharp and rigid mouthparts. These are the claims of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture.
Not only the typical discomfort. These bumps can, by all means, get infected by scraping and scratching. Save yourself from the awful horse flies – and most of the other unwanted visitors in here – by using insect repellent with DEET or permethrin and unraveling long clothing whenever you go out in nature.
Keep Bugs Away While You’re Camping
While considering which bug-prevention approach is good for you, be sure to think about a few things unusual for your situation. That can be temperatures, sensitive skin, or allergies.
Are you a novice camper or a seasoned veteran? It doesn’t matter. Many of these methods are sure to work for you. Even though you can’t handle these little intruders, there might be a way to win the war on bugs. Let’s take a look at how to keep the bugs away from your campsite!
Standard Bug Sprays or Creams
Conventional bug sprays or creams are the prevalent choices when it comes to keeping the bugs away. Some campers don’t enjoy DEET-based products for a variety of causes. Some don’t like the smell, the possibility of skin or eye itch, and several other reasons.
Assure that your bug spray or cream is water-resistant, too. Likewise, it’s best to spray repellent on your attire.
Tip: Are you thinking of your next camping trip? Always make sure to put lights on the ground while camping to know what is surrounding you.
Homemade Essential Oil Repellent
Essential oils are becoming more and more popular today. So, these natural extracts are a lot easier than ever to reach. What’s more, you might already have some in your home. There is an abundance of essential oils with bug-repelling effects that offer a natural option to the solemn chemicals in time-honored bug sprays.
Even though you can apply essential oil-based concoctions directly to the skin, it’s more reasonable to spray it on your attire, particularly if your skin is sensitive. This goes without saying!
