AM 930 Blog

Bugs be gone!

Posted by AM930 The Light | POST A COMMENT (1 Comments)

Why does it feel like every insect within 30 miles has you in its crosshairs, while your husband is unbitten? Some of us attract more pests, says Kansas State University entomologist Raymond Cloyd, Ph.D. "It depends on your unique odors," he says — and how much you breathe and sweat: "Mosquitoes use carbon dioxide and lactic acid in sweat to find us." DEET sprays are your best defense, but when you can't or don't want to use chemicals, these tricks work too.

Put a dryer sheet in each pocket.
Gardeners told Cloyd for years that Bounce kept bugs away, so he tested the theory and found that a dryer sheet repelled up to 36 percent of insects. "Bounce contains linalool, a plant compound that's toxic to bugs," he says.

Blend in.
Bright colors, especially yellow and blue, attract insects. Lucky for you, neutrals are big for summer! But pick a little beige dress over black: Dark clothes look like yummy animal hides to mosquitoes, says Sharon Lawler, Ph.D., professor of entomology at the University of California, Davis.

Sip iced tea.
Soda is a mosquito magnet, says Lawler. The bugs are attracted to the carbonation. Burping also draws in bugs.

Heat them up!
Put a warm compress on the bite. It neutralizes venom and cuts down on itching.