Bobbi Pritt, M.D., Discusses Minnesota Bugs to Watch out for This Summer

By Kelley Luedke • May 30, 2017

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In a recent article in the Star Tribune, Bobbi Pritt, M.D., Director of the Clinical Parasitology Laboratory in Mayo Clinic’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, weighs in on bugs present in Minnesota to watch out for this summer.

Dr. Pritt discusses the following bugs:

• Black-Legged Ticks: "These crittters (also known as deer ticks) are actively biting in late spring and early summer. Risk of human infection from a tick bite is highest now," said Dr. Pritt.
• Mosquitos: Mosquitoes lay their eggs in shallow pools of water. More rain equals more eggs. “We’ve been getting a lot of rain, so those mosquitoes are going to be out pretty soon,” Dr. Pritt said.
• Horseflies and Deerflies: Horseflies and deerflies may bite, but they’re not known to transmit any diseases in Minnesota. “They’re more likely to chase you when you’re hiking,” said Dr. Pritt.

Also mentioned in the article are house centipedes, which are typically found in damp areas such as the basement but are not harmful, and yellow jackets, which sting like bees.

Read the full article to learn more about each bug, including their most active times, where they hang out, their "nasty factor," and how to protect yourself against them.

Kelley Luedke

Kelley Luedke is a Marketing Channel Manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories. She is the principle editor and writer of Insights and leads social media and direct marketing strategy. Kelley has worked at Mayo Clinic since 2013. Outside of work, you can find Kelley running, traveling, playing with her kitty, and exploring new foods.