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 Insects
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& Wildlife • Insects
Go to: Forest
Insects and Diseases • First Aid for
Mosquito Bites • Bee Stings • West
Nile Virus
Forest
Insects and Diseases
The Integrated
Pest Management (IPM) Section of the Nova Scotia Department of
Natural Resources identifies, monitors and assesses forest insect
populations and forest disease conditions in Nova Scotia. For more
information on this department, visit their web site by CLICKING
HERE.
First
Aid for Mosquito Bites
Mosquito bites
are a common problem in summer time. The usual reaction is a local
skin inflammation that is red, raised and very itchy. If your child
scratches the bite, it may become infected as well. Here's what you
can do for your children to help ease the itch and pain caused by
mosquito bites.
Treatments:
Other Suggestions:
Choosing an
Insect Repellant
DEET is the
best insect repellant in terms of effectiveness against flies, gnats,
chiggers, ticks and other insects. The higher the DEET concentration
the better it works. For children, however, the EPA recommends a
concentration of 10 percent or less to prevent side effects and
toxicity.
DEET can be
applied directly to the skin or most clothing. Be careful not to put
it near your child's eyes, mouth, open wounds or the hands of infants
who may touch their eyes or mouth. Because it is absorbed through the
skin, use it cautiously and only when needed.
There is a new
plant-based bug repellant called Off Botanicals that actually
duplicates the naturally occurring repellant in lemon eucalyptus oil.
It is recommended for outdoor activities such as picnics, barbeques,
bicycling and going to the beach. The lotion is as effective as Off
with 7 percent DEET and is effective for up to 90 minutes at which
time it may be reapplied.
Citronella, a
plant-derived alternative, repels mosquitoes but is less effective
than DEET.
Bee
Stings
What is it?
The sting of a
wasp is different from the typical honey bee sting in that the latter
leaves the stinger attached with the venom sac within the victim.
What are
the symptoms?
Generally
there is immediate pain and swelling. There are some children who can
have severe allergic reactions characterized by difficulty breathing,
hives, itching, and swelling over the body. The redness and swelling
can often cover a large area of skin that can last for up to 48
hours. These large reactions do not necessarily mean it is an
allergic reaction.
What
can/should be done at home:
When to get
immediate attention:
West
Nile Virus
West Nile (WN)
virus is a mosquito-borne virus. Mosquitoes transmit the virus after
becoming infected by feeding on the blood of birds which carry the
virus. In Canada, the virus was first confirmed in birds in Ontario
in 2001 and the first human case of WN virus was confirmed in Ontario
in September 2002.
For most
Canadians, the risk of illness from West Nile virus is low, and the
risk of serious health effects is even lower. Nevertheless, it is
important to know the symptoms
of illness related to infection and how to minimize
your risk, especially if virus activity is reported in an area
near you. For more information, visit Health Canada's web site by CLICKING
HERE. |
