17 July 2024
Ugh! Summer means bugs!
Insects are cold blooded (poikilothermic), which means that temperature and moisture will regulate their existence and reproduction. Being cold blooded they are unable to regulate their own temperature and their internal heat or cold will vary with the ambient, or outdoor, temps.
So, depending on the bug, the best temperatures for development can be between 55 and 60 while others need warmer climes of between 85 and 90. Walking, flying, reproduction, and feeding, are all optimal between 32 on the low end and 120 on the high end. You guessed it; that is pretty much all summer long.
Moisture is the other factor. Heavy rain or prolonged periods of precipitation will probably deter population explosions. That is because the storm will wash them off the leaves and they will drown. Humidity also has an effect. Cool, moist weather can kill insects because it will stunt growth and development and make it difficult for them to feed. Of course, there are exceptions and there are some pests that prefer it cooler and thrive.
There is another factor and that is the weather’s influence on the growth of weeds, which are food sources as well as breeding grounds.
Like all living creatures, insects need moisture or water to survive. They get this nutrient from plants and use it to regulate any water loss from their little bodies.
Weather and patterns have a profound effect on insect pests and will, in turn, decide how or if we will control their spread or prevention. There are a number of these creatures that will affect horticultural crops, including vegetables. This means not only your backyard garden but the prices we see in the grocery stores.
Ticks
Since we are on the topic of tiny biting creatures, let’s discuss ticks. They live in long grass and shrubberies. As we know, they can spread Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Alpha Gal, and probably other nasties. We will get to the particulars of Alpha Gal in a minute or two.
First, prevention is the primary defense. Wear long pants and tuck the bottoms into your socks. Wear shirts with long sleeves. Apply tick repellents. Always check for ticks after your walk in the forest or grassy areas. They particularly like skin folds and hidden areas. If you find one, use your thumb and forefinger and grab it as close to your skin as possible. Use even, constant pressure and pull the tick away from the body. You want to be sure you have removed its mouth. Check pets that have been in questionable areas. Ticks will migrate from cats and dogs onto humans.
Now about Alpha-gal syndrome, also called alpha-gal allergy or red meat allergy. This is an allergic reaction to a carbohydrate called galactose-alpha-1-3-galactos, shortened to alpha-gal. Except for humans and great apes, a placental mammal will produce this alpha-gal. Okay. Carbohydrates seldom cause allergies. Alpha-gal has been found in the saliva of some ticks, specifically the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum). If this tick bites a mammal, it triggers an immune response. Symptoms can be skin rash or hives; nausea or indigestion; vomiting, headaches, swelling in the lips, face, and tongue. It could cause the throat to swell and labored breathing to the point of anaphylaxis. The symptoms will begin a few hours after eating beef, pork, or lamb that have been triggered by the tick bite. If this happens to you, report it to your primary care physician who will prescribe a plan of treatment.
