E t c e s n I r u O (Se a wae a abit Don’t Let Pests Swarm In On Your Summer Fun (NAPSA)—Asthe temperature heats up, many of us head outdoors—only to begin an annual battle with annoying and sometimes perilous insects that invade our yards. Activities we associate with the season—swimming, barbecues, even enjoying sunsets from our front porches—are not immuneto intrusive pests. Insects that bite or sting cause great concern. In fact, the American Academyof Allergy, Asthma and Immunology notes that stinging insects send 500,000 people to hospitals each year. According to Orkin Pest Control, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets andfire ants area particular problem; hot weather encourages the growthof their colonies. Just one acre can support up to 40 maturefire ant colonies, each capable of containing 500,000 or more ants. While insect bites or stings are usually not life threatening, they can be painful, easily infected and can aggravate skin disorders or allergies. Parents should monitor for stinging insect nests or mounds and have outbreaks treated by a licensed pest control professional. Houseflies are also bothersome. Not only a nuisance, houseflies are known to carry a variety of disease organisms—including bacteria—that have been linked to food poisoning, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections and meningitis. Houseflies can fly as far as 28 miles when carried by wind—and also buzz into the home. Ninety-eight percentof flies caught in the home are houseflies. When eating, people should be vigilant about keeping food away from these filthy pests. “The warmer months create an insect-friendly environment that can interfere with our time out- papee i y Stinging insects send 500,000 people to hospitals each year. doors,” says Orkin Technical Director and entomologist Paul Bello. “It’s during this peak insect season we should take steps necessary to ensure safety.” Follow these steps to stop insects from ruining outdoor fun. Keep food containers tightly wrapped or secured. Don’t leave food or discarded wrappersin the open. Cover soda cans. Many people are stung on the face and mouth by yellow jackets that entered their soda can unseen. Empty garbage cansoften. Use an insect repellent containing DEET. Follow label instructions; wash repellant off when returning indoors. Wearlong sleeves and pants to reduce the amount of skin exposed to insects. Consult a physician if showing signs of strong allergic reactions to an insect bite or sting. Additional information on a variety of pests can be found online at www.orkin.com. For a free inspection, call 1-800-800- ORKIN.
