Garden tips \ Handling dangerous insects

Here are some steps to ease the threat of stings and ailments transmitted by fire ants, ticks and mosquitoes.

IMPORTED FIRE ANTS

Watch your step. Learn to recognize probable nesting sites and steer clear.

Wear protective clothing, particularly boots.

Control fire ants when they appear in areas frequented by people, pets or livestock. Use bait products that the ants carry back to their nests.

DISEASE-CARRYING TICKS

Early detection. Inspect your body and clothing frequently. Also inspect your children and pets. Wear light-colored garments so you can see any ticks more easily. Tuck pants into socks to prevent ticks from gaining access to your body.

Use pesticides and repellants judiciously. Spray them on boots and clothing.

Create tick-free zones in areas that you and your family use regularly.

WEST NILE VIRUS-CARRYING MOSQUITOES

Observe “the Five D’s”:

Dusk until dawn. Limit your time outdoors when mosquitoes are most active.

Drain any standing water where mosquitoes may lay eggs.

Dress appropriately. Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts in mosquito and tick country.

Doors and barriers. Repair or install screens on windows and doors to prevent biting insects from entering.

DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). Apply insect repellant containing DEET if you plan to be outdoors for long.

Source: Dean Fosdick, for The Associated Press