Enjoy evening light shows, but take precautions

The Fourth of July has come and gone, but there's no shortage of spectacular fireworks for those willing to venture out after dark.

Lightning storms like the one that skirted McCook overnight are certainly impressive, but we don't recommend being outdoors during those.

Take a walk near a meadow and wooded area in the dark this week, however, and you'll be treated to a dazzling display of fireflies, turning their tail-lights on and off in a seemingly coordinated light show rivaling any Christmas display.

Lightning bugs aren't the only flying insect out there on humid summer nights, however, and the others aren't so benign or enjoyable.

If you are outside at night, or anytime mosquitoes are active, make sure you take precautions to protect yourself.

The extra rain we're receiving this year is a mixed blessing, bringing along an increased risk of West Nile virus. Last year, Nebraska had 163 cases of West Nile, including four fatalities.

To begin with, any containers or standing water should be dumped, according to Barbara Ogg, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educator in Lancaster County. A small pond or body of water that can't be drained can be treated with products, in the form of doughnuts, biscuits or granules, containing bacillus thuringiensis isrealensis or BTI.

The product can be bought at hardware stores or garden centers for $10 to $15, and affects only mosquito larvae, not wildlife or animals that happen to drink water from the pond.

If you have the money, a device called a Mosquito Magnet can be purchased for about $500. It generates carbon dioxide from a propane tank, attracts and traps them.

"Unfortunately, bug zappers don't work on mosquitoes," Ogg said. The bugs are attracted by carbon dioxide and odors, not light, she said.

For personal protection, experts recommend an insect repellent with DEET, except for children under 2 months old.

Picaridin is another choice, for those who don't like the odor or greasiness of DEET. If you want to "go green," some repellents use natural oil of lemon eucalyptus, which may not last as long as the other products.

You especially should use a repellent if you're older than 50, because the elderly are more likely to have a serious reaction to the West Nile virus.

Culex tarsalis, the mosquito that is the best vector for the West Nile virus, is more prevalent farther west, Ogg said. That means those of us in central and western Nebraska need to be especially conscious of mosquitoes and protect ourselves with repellent.

Symptoms of West Nile, which causes the brain to swell, include headaches, neck stiffness, skin rash, stupor, disorientation, paralysis, coma and possible death. Symptoms begin to show three days to two weeks after the virus is contracted. See a doctor as soon as possible if you have any of these symptoms.

So get out and enjoy our our pleasant summer evenings. But be careful out there.