Sage advice. However, it is a wellknown fact that many people lose their ability to think rationally when a bug lands on their body or enters their personal “no fly zone.” Grown men and women can be reduced to flailing, fleeing, mindless chickens by the mere whisper of a buzz in their vicinity. I once saw a woman drop her baby because an earwig crawled up her arm (don’t worry, the baby was okay). My stepfather used to spray Raid Hotshot from 10 feet out if a hapless spider crossed his path. We kids just had to pray we didn’t get caught in the crossfire.

And why? Why this level of alarm at the mere sight of a tiny arthropod? Because we don’t want to get bit, of course! As amazing and wondrous as insects can be to study, it’s another thing altogether when one lands on your arm, jabs you with its proboscis, injects saliva into your skin, and then proceeds to drink your blood! Yuck! No one enjoys that particular encounter with nature. But, due to the fact that we are outnumbered a billion to one by the little critters, the stark reality is that we have all been bitten and will be bitten again.

Biters can be divided into two general categories: stingers and suckers. Wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, all bees, and some ants comprise most of the stingers. Suckers include mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and lice. And then there are the spiders with their fangs, a category unto themselves. The suckers will leave an itchy bump behind as their way of saying thanks for the meal. This bump is caused when the sucker injects proteins into your skin to keep your blood from clotting so they can drink their fill. Charming. Stingers and some spiders are venomous, which means a bite from one of these little guys will result in pain and probably some itching, too.

Obviously, our first line of defense against these insect intruders is prevention. Stinging insects are attracted by sweet perfumes and bright colors, so be careful what you put on if you know you will be in an area populated by bees, yellow jackets, etc. Yellow jackets, especially, are drawn to odors, so be sure to keep garbage far from your house. Watch out for those soda cans in the recycling bin—they love to hang out there! Most stinging insects are not predatory like the suckers, but rather use their sting as a defense mechanism. Don’t bug them and they probably won’t bug you.

To prevent flea, tick, and other nonvenomous bites, make sure you are covered up before wandering through the forest or tall grasses. Examine your skin, especially around the ankles and wrists, after you have been outdoors. Don’t feed wild animals, such as squirrels or chipmunks! My father was hospitalized for several weeks a couple of years ago because he fed the chipmunks at Zion National Park. He became extremely ill with Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Squirrels, chipmunks, and deer, among others, carry the ticks that spread this and other diseases.

Repellents such as DEET are popular, but I have never been comfortable spraying something on my children that has a caution on the label that reads, “Potentially fatal if swallowed,” along with a host of other warnings. Natural repellents can be very effective if used properly. Most health food stores carry a variety of insect repellents. Many contain natural oils such as cedar, tea tree, and eucalyptus. If you can stand the smell, simply rubbing a little Vicks VapoRub on exposed skin will keep biters away. Even natural oils can be irritating, however, so be sure to test any repellant on a small patch of skin to make sure there won’t be a reaction. Burning citronella candles outside will work if you use enough of them and there isn’t a breeze to blow the scent away.

With all of our preventative measures, we are still likely to get bitten once in a while. Happily, there are a number of natural remedies for stings and bites. Our favorite remedy for everyday flea and mosquito bites is plain old hot water. Running hot water (as hot as you can stand it without scalding) over the bite will immediately take the itch away and, if done quickly enough after being bitten, will shorten the duration of the reaction. Of course, this might not be the best course of action for little ones. Try rubbing alcohol or, once again, Vicks VapoRub on the spot.

Although it is not exactly a natural remedy, Benadryl is a good thing to have on hand for the itching and swelling of bee stings. Remember not to just pull a honeybee stinger out since it is likely the venom sack will still be attached and grabbing it will cause more venom to be injected into the skin. Carefully scrape the stinger out with your nail or the edge of a credit card.

A very effective natural remedy for a sting is a poultice. A poultice is made by adding some form of warm liquid to a crushed herb or other natural substance in order to form a paste. This paste is placed between folds of cheesecloth and then onto the bite. Plastic wrap can be used to secure the poultice to the body. The best compound we have found for stings is activated charcoal. You must use only activated charcoal meant for human consumption, available at any health food store. Do not go outside and grab some of your charcoal briquettes!

By keeping a few natural remedies in your cabinet and following simple preventative measures, you ought to be able to defend yourself against any type of insect onslaught. Just don’t use a hatchet!

Lisa is wife to Guy and mother to six great kids. She is the publisher of New Harvest, a bimonthly newsletter for women in which all things homestead are shared. Growing and preserving food, backyard livestock, crafting, homekeeping, kitchen arts, and other practical skills are discussed, along with lots of Titus 2 encouragement. You can visit the New Harvest website at www.newharvesthomestead.com.