From May through July, people get tick bites and tickborne diseases more often than any other time of year in the U.S. in the past few years, including Texas with 48 confirmed cases in 2013 (plus 35 probable cases). Other insect-borne diseases that you may encounter are tick borne Lyme Disease, which is normally seen in the East Coast, but has come as close as the Southeastern U.S.

It has frequently been stated that dengue, malaria, and other mosquito-borne diseases will become common in the U.S., based on predictive models and climate change. In 2013 we had 183 reported and confirmed cases. West Nile Fever, also transmitted by infected mosquitoes, has come to Texas as well. In Texas, as of May 2015, we have had seven travel associated cases reported. As of 2013 confirmed cases occurred in Europa and more recently in the Carribean islands, Puerto Rico and U.S. The most recent cases in Texas have been primarily in Southern Texas, but the closest to us was identified in Austin.Īnother prime example is Chikungunya, which only a few years ago was seen only in Africa. Dengue occurred extensively prior to 1945, but over the past 3 decades it has again appeared in Florida, Hawaii, and Texas. But in just the past two years some of the unusual and dangerous illnesses transmitted by mosquitoes are closer to home.

Normally, we are worried about just the itch caused by the mosquito and the possibility of the bite getting infected. Stings: ants, bees, scorpions Secretions: millipedes, caterpillars. Avoidance Measures for Mosquitoes and InsectsĪny of these bugs can cause harm: insects, spiders, ticks, scorpions, caterpillars, moths, butterflies, centipedes, millipedes and grasshoppers. Since the mosquito population is expected to be significantly higher this spring and summer season, it’s probably a good time to prepare for the North Texas mosquito and insect season. This year the massive rains have affected our gardens and the animals that inhabit our outside world.

Skedaddle insect repellent