The bane of summer: Utah creepy crawlies you need to worry about

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There are so many reasons to love summer in Utah thanks to its bountiful outdoor recreation and diverse landscapes that cater to every type of activity. There is one drawback, however: bugs. Just as you like to come out and play when the sun is shining, so do insects. Most of them are harmless or annoying at worst, but others pose more serious risks to unsuspecting individuals.

Here’s a short list of Utah’s creepy crawlies that you’ll definitely want to avoid as you venture outdoors this summer.

Mosquitoes

When it comes to annoying insects, the blood-sucking, itchy bite-inflicting mosquito takes first prize. This year, the extra water from record snowfall may make the mosquito population even worse. In April, KSL TV’s Shelby Lofton reported that floodwater could bring a “more aggressive” type of mosquito in the spring and summer. Though these floodwater mosquitoes bite harder than others, the good news is that they don’t carry harmful diseases.

Daniel McBride, assistant director of the South Salt Lake Valley Mosquito Abatement District, told KSL that the kind of mosquitos that carry West Nile virus typically prefer permanent water sources.

“Buckets, gutters that haven’t been cleaned out, maybe an old horse trough, maybe even a cup you left out when you were playing outside. Get rid of that water,” McBride warns.

Spiders

Spiders have long been on the list of most-feared creepy-crawlies, but they also might be some of the most misunderstood. According to a Utah State University Extension fact sheet, “Spiders

are beneficial predators and the majority of them are harmless to humans.”

In Utah, there are approximately 621 species of spiders, yet the USU Extensions says the only ones you really have to worry about are black widows. Contrary to what you might have been taught growing up, the dangerous brown recluse spider doesn’t live in Utah. There’s also no strong evidence that hobo spider bites are harmful.

If you want to keep these eight-legged bugs at bay, your best bet is to vacuum, clean and seal any cracks or crevices in your house. Otherwise, the USU Extension says pesticides are only recommended when you’re dealing with black widows or an outbreak of spiders.

Ticks

Between spiders and ticks, the latter is the more dangerous arachnid. That’s because ticks can carry diseases that might make you seriously ill. The USU Extension reports that you’re most likely to encounter ticks from snowmelt through mid-July in Utah, so be careful while you and the kids are out hiking.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends walking in the center of trails and avoiding wooded and brushy areas with tall grass to reduce your chances of a tick bite. Wear EPA-registered insect repellent and be sure to do a full body check for ticks if you’ve been in a potentially tick-infested area.

Blister beetles

It sounds like something from the “Hunger Games” novels, but blister beetles are real — and you don’t want to mess with them. Several varieties are found in Utah. One type common to alfalfa can cause serious illness or even death to livestock that accidentally consume them, according to an article about an outbreak in Tooele County.

According to Poison Control, “Blister beetles excrete a toxic blistering agent called cantharidin, which can cause irritation and blistering when it comes in contact with the eyes, skin, mouth, throat, or digestive tract.”

While that’s certainly unpleasant and painful, they’re usually not life-threatening.

Kissing bugs

Unlike the blister beetle whose name is an obvious warning sign, a kissing bug may not initially strike a lot of fear into your heart. But even though it’s not the most dangerous insect in the world, there’s still a good reason to avoid them if you can. The bug got its name because it’s known for biting people on the face. And if that thought is enough to keep you up at night, you aren’t going to like this next part.

The Mayo Clinic says these bugs, known as triatomine bug, can carry Chagas disease. The disease comes from a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi. Their website says, “Infected bugs defecate after feeding, leaving behind parasites on the skin. The parasites can then enter your body through your eyes, mouth, a cut or scratch, or the wound from the bug’s bite.”

Even though it seems like the best idea after being bitten, don’t scratch or rub the bite site! It might help the parasites enter your body.

So, sleep tight — and definitely don’t let those kissing bugs bite!

Tarantula hawks

Tarantula hawks are nothing like their name implies, so you don’t have to worry about being attacked by giant flying spiders any time soon. But the real thing isn’t much better. It’s a giant wasp that’s big enough to hunt tarantulas — and in the unlikely chance that one stings you, you’ll definitely take notice.

One researcher described the tarantula hawk sting this way to the Natural History Museum of Utah, “To me, the pain is like an electric wand that hits you, inducing an immediate, excruciating pain that simply shuts down one’s ability to do anything, except, perhaps, scream. Mental discipline simply does not work in these situations.”

Bottom line: Don’t make this thing mad.

Now that you’ve got a case of the creepy crawlies, just remember that it’s relatively rare to run into these bugs. By taking a few precautions — such as wearing insect repellant and proper clothing outdoors — you’ll minimize your chances of being bugged by these summer pests. If you’re worried about a particular bite or sting, contact a healthcare professional.

Siegfried & Jensen

Since 1990, Siegfried & Jensen have been helping the people of Utah and surrounding states who have suffered needless injuries and death caused by car accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, defective drugs, dog bites, wrongful death, and other types of personal injury.

The firm is committed to keeping Utah families and communities safe by ensuring wrongdoers are held accountable. While a lawsuit isn’t always the answer when it is needed having someone on your side can mean the difference between declaring bankruptcy and rebuilding your life and moving forward, especially when you’re up against an insurance company or a hospital.

Siegfried & Jensen has represented more than 35,000 clients and recovered over $1.2 billion for them.