Those hot summer days are nice, but they can quickly become annoying when you’re swatting away those bugs every ten seconds. With over 10 quintillion insects living in the world, you’ll be wondering if those insects flying in your backyard will ever leave!

Insects love humid weather; it becomes their favourite time to reproduce and intrude in your home for food or safety. You’ll find yourself purchasing some insect repellent to mend your worries. But if you’re someone with a gentle heart, you might get concerned about if insect repellent kills bugs.

Are you a homeowner wondering how insect repellent works? Are you wondering if that new repellent will kill off those bugs damaging your garden? Look no further, because here is a short guide to tell you how insect repellent works.

Continue reading so you can figure out what to do about those pesky insects!

What Is a Bug Spray?

Bug spray is a substance applied to the body or a surface to repel insects from coming near them. It can be a form of pest control by preventing insect-borne breakouts, such as malaria, and reducing bug bacteria from spreading.

Bug spray has two forms: insect repellent or insecticides. Insecticides are not safe to apply to the body and kill insects. Many are harmful to humans and animals, so they should be used carefully. Insecticides can repel bugs as well by having strong scents.

What Is Insect Repellent?

Insect repellent is a strongly scented spray used to deter insects from crawling, biting, and or landing on a surface or skin. Bugs can naturally smell your scent, so insect repellent works by disguising how you smell. Not only that, but the scent of bug spray is repulsive to insects.

Ingredients in Insect Repellent

Insect repellent contains ingredients that work to mask the scent of carbon dioxide. For example, DEET is an active ingredient in repellents that make it difficult for bugs to smell you. Other ingredients can be natural or synthetic, depending on the brand.

Most ingredients in insect repellents are not harmful or fatal. However, insecticides can be lethal at a certain dose.

The inclusion of pesticides in agriculture has resulted in poisoning and breathing difficulties. Ingredients called pyrethrins are the primary cause of these health problems.

You must choose a repellent that is approved by the Australian Environmental Protection Agency to ensure you are using proper bug spray.

Is Bug Spray Safe?

Generally, yes, bug spray is safe. It is safer to use bug spray rather than risk insects transmitting diseases to you or your loved ones. The ingredient DEET is safe to use, and if you’re looking for an insecticide, Permethrin is safe to apply to your clothing.

Regardless of being a safe product, you must know how to use bug spray properly to ensure you are not placing your health at risk. To use bug spray safely, remember the following:

• Do not use bug spray near food
• Never use repellent over open wounds
• Do not apply near your eyes or mouth
• Clean areas you have sprayed with insecticides, especially if you have animals
• Wash your body after use

It’s easy to get caught up trying to get rid of these pests, but your safety is a priority. Take these extra steps to make sure you’re using bug spray properly.

How Does Bug Spray Work?

Insect repellents and insecticides work effectively in getting rid of pests. Most repellents do not work against lice or fleas; otherwise, they are one of the most efficient ways of pest control next to pest control services.

Our bodies naturally release carbon dioxide, which attracts insects. Insect repellents work by masking our scent. Insecticide works as a toxin.

When an insect is sprayed or digests the substance, it enters the nervous system and results in a spasm. Afterward, the insect dies.

Having trouble catching the bugs in action? Spraying insecticides on your plants or trees where the bugs frequent is a sure way to get rid of them. Ingested insecticides are substances that, when consumed by bugs, attack the insect’s gut and kill them.

Does Insect Repellent Kill Bugs?

Insect repellents are not designed to kill bugs, however, too much of any chemical substance can kill insects.

Bugs are small creatures that cannot handle much of the daily substances we surround ourselves with. If you’ve ever sprayed a bug to death with a can of hairspray or perfume, then you know exactly what we’re talking about!

Insect repellents are created to repel insects, not kill them. If you spray a bug directly with repellent, there is a chance they could die due to drowning or suffocating from the chemicals. However, this is not the suggested use of insect repellent.

What if Bug Spray Doesn’t Work?

If you’re constantly using bug spray and the pests won’t die down, then it may be time to contact a pest control service like Safeguard.

Do you live on the Sunshine Coast and are struggling with an infestation? If so, Safeguard has a full-range of services.

It specializes in eco-friendly residential and commercial pest control. We work with a wide range of pests, ranging from termites to rodents.

Bug spray is a quick and easy option to solve pest problems. But it will only work for so long. Safeguard guarantees natural and organic solutions to keep those pests away for good!

Control Those Pests, the Easy Way!

Insect repellent is an efficient way to solve all your pest problems. If you’re someone who doesn’t like to use products that cause harm, then it’s a great substitute for insecticide.

Always think about using a pest control service like Safeguard when things get too risky. When the bug spray stops doing its job, call us in to do ours!

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