Insects Often Found in Campgrounds

Insect Life to Be Aware of

Going on a camping trip might be one of the finest adventures you’ll enjoy. Clean air, spectacular mountains, stunning flora, or plant life are what I like most about campgrounds. However, humans are not the only species in the forest campgrounds that I work in. There are many not so friendly insects often found in campgrounds that campers should know about. As I have said in another article, Know Before You Go.

Yellowjackets

The type of wasp that are common to the regions that the evergreen tree grows, is the yellowjacket. This type of wasp will construct their nests in downed trees that your kids maybe playing nearby. Some will attempt to build a nest in your awning. Wasps usually appear around the spring or the start of the summer camping season. The yellowjacket normally leave their nests early in the morning and return late in the afternoon.

Even though, not specifically aggressive, unless the colony becomes aroused by someone coming close to the nest. An aroused nest heightens the likelihood of getting stung. They tend to be attracted to the smell of meat being cooked, sugar water (even a tiny amount on the rim of a soda bottle), and a variety of other products that you may have in the campground. If you don’t notice them, the chances go up that you may get stung. Watch for them.

A can of wasp or yellowjacket repellent is often an excellent item to include in your camping box. I use low -cost yellow jacket traps in my campsite. What can a yellowjacket sting do to you? Two years ago, my wife and a group of friends were sitting in a screen tent, my wife put her arm down at the wrong time and was stung by a yellowjacket. Immediately she started swelling up at the sting site, and her breathing became labored. We rushed her to the hospital, where the doctor informed us that, you build an immunity to bee stings, but each time you are stung by a yellowjacket, especially as you get older, you risk breathing complications. Now she carries an epi-pen with her at all times and a can of wasp repellent.

Mosquito

Mosquitoes are another insect that you may find in a campground especially if you camp near a lake or stream. The mosquito sting may not be painful, it is bothersome and will itch a great deal. With the new species that have been identified, mosquitos may actually be quite harmful. West Nile disease is nothing to sneeze at, see a doctor if you are in the area that this new species has been identified in.

There are 3,000 species of the small fly we know as the mosquito. They do not actually bite or sting, they are sucking your blood to help with their reproductive process. The attraction for the mosquitoes is the carbon dioxide that we breathe out, together with certain different elements which can be less understood. Studies have indicated that body warmth attract them, whilst others have even revealed that insects can sense heartbeat vibrations.

Luckily, there are a variety of sprays which aid in tackling them. Deet containing worm spray is safe and green, if used correctly. It’s made to spray over clothing as opposed to applying to bare pores and skin. In either scenario use the least amount possible. Citronella candles may be used in a few instances, but if there are gusty winds, citronella loses its effectiveness.

Ticks

Ticks are plentiful in forest areas. The threat of Lyme disease has been over exaggerated; however, the threat should not be totally ignored. Try wearing long sleeved shirts and pants that reach down to your boots, also keep your hair from coming into contact with bushes. Ticks do generally tend to be attracted to animals, especially dogs, more frequently than human.

Spiders

Depending on where you are camping, there can be many species of spiders that you will need to stay away from. The chances of being bitten are slim, as spiders tend to avoid human contact and commonly only attack if cornered. Black widow spiders like dark areas, like under your tent, watch placing your hand in any dark corner without checking for them. They are identified by the hourglass figure on the top of their body.

Know Before You Go

Here we have been looking at insect life in a campground, and we can not list them all because they vary according to where you live. Again, Know Before You Go. Campground websites will often list the flora and fauna (plants and animals) that are indigenous to the area you wish to camp at.

Research and Be Prepared

Research the poisonous plants, snakes, insects, and animals that are indigenous to an area that you plan to visit, you do not need to cancel an adventure because they exist in the outdoors. You only need to prepare to wear the proper clothing and have supplies in your camping box that will safeguard you against them.

In another post we can examine the wildlife that live in areas you may want to visit.

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