Keep bugs at bay

With insect-transmitted maladies like West Nile virus and Lyme disease lurking, it’s a darned good idea to use some type of bug repellent when one goes outdoors, especially in grassy or wooded wilderness areas. Thanks to Environmental Working Group’s new Guide to Better Bug Repellents, one can find an insect repellent that both effectively repels pests while offering low toxicity. Downloadable at www.tinyurl.com/bugsafe, EWG’s guide offers the lowdown on Picaridin, IR3535, DEET and lemon-eucalyptus oil, as well as useful tips, such as “Don’t use any bug repellents on children under 6 months,” and a list of diseases carried by ticks and mosquitoes.