Two Pests That Will Follow You Into the Fall
With cool weather finally hitting most of the U.S., you might think it's the end of bug season...
No more wasps on your soda can, spiders taking over your basement, or ants swarming your kitchen.
But there are two small "summertime" nuisances that can still put your health at risk well into the fall...
Ticks
True, summer is considered peak season for these miniscule bloodsuckers, thanks to the heat and humidity. But ticks are still out and about during September and, in some areas of the U.S., even into November.
And get this – ticks can survive the winter by becoming dormant. Once March rolls around, these buggers come out of their hibernation of sorts as the weather slowly warms back up.
Here in the U.S., ticks account for 90% of all diseases caused by from things like insect bites.
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the U.S., with roughly 476,000 new cases cropping up each year. Worse, that number is likely higher since the nonspecific, initial symptoms – like headache, dizziness, fatigue, and muscle pain – can mimic those of so many other conditions. Not to mention, the classic "bull's eye"-shaped rash associated with Lyme disease might not even show up in some cases.
Left untreated, Lyme disease can spread to your heart, nervous system, and joints... causing you to end up with chronic, severe fatigue, muscle-and-joint pain, and problems focusing, remembering, sleeping, and more.
Once autumn fully rolls around, your kids or pets might be tempted to play in piles of crunchy, fallen leaves. But think twice about letting them do so. That's because leaf litter provides dark, moist hiding spots for ticks. Instead, bag up and throw away fallen leaves in your yard... or do what I do: Compost the leaves and use them for mulch. (Shredding them with a lawn mower allows for faster decomposition.)
And if you're planning on doing some hiking now that the weather isn't sweltering hot, remember to stay on the path. After all, ticks love hanging out in wooded areas and in tall grass, especially in what's called "edge habitats."
Examples of edge habitats include the border between a trimmed lawn and a wooded area and the tall brush growing alongside a trail or sidewalk. Even ground-cover plants in your yard like ivy, pachysandra, and creeping thyme count.
You don't have to live in the countryside or suburbs, either – city folks can get tick-borne diseases from any urban green spaces like parks and public gardens.
If you plan on spending time in grassy or wooded areas, cover up as much exposed skin as you can (including tucking your pants into your socks). You might look silly for a moment, but it sure beats having Lyme disease down the road.
You'll still want to do the tick check after your outdoor adventures, focusing on spots like your...
• Scalp
• Behind and in the ears
• Armpits
• Belly button
• Groin
• Behind the knees
• Between your toes
• Between folds of skin
Mosquitoes
Unfortunately, mosquitoes don't mind hanging out into the cooler months, too. Specifically, you can expect these airborne vampires to remain a threat until late fall when the temperature finally drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
While a few skeeter-inflicted itchy bumps are a mild nuisance for most, some unfortunate folks are allergic to mosquito saliva and get a severe inflammatory reaction.
And then there's the possibility of mosquito-borne diseases... like West Nile, the most common mosquito-transmitted disease in the U.S. Even though the number of cases dropped between 2023 and 2024, this disease – along with other viral mosquito-borne ones – still poses a big risk to seniors.
That's due to weaker immune systems and being more likely to have existing health problems. As a result, these folks have a higher risk of developing serious complications like encephalitis (brain swelling) or meningitis (swelling of the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord).
Thankfully, most of these bugs won't carry disease. Still, that slight chance of developing a dangerous disease is still a good reminder to use some common sense...
Eliminating standing water on the regular is a must. It can take anywhere from four to 14 days for a hatched baby mosquito to grow into the adult bloodsucker we all know and love to hate... So every few days (and always after a rainstorm), check in places like your flowerpots, birdbaths, gutters, pool and furniture covers, and even undisturbed tire tracks nearby. Mosquitoes love laying their eggs in any little bit of standing water they can find.
Keep peak hours in mind, too. While some mosquitoes (like the Aedes variety known for spreading dengue and Zika viruses) like to hang out during the daytime, most species (like the Culex, which spreads West Nile virus) are active at dawn and dusk. So plan your activities around those times to reduce the likelihood of being bitten.
If you do plan on being out and about, try running a fan to make flying conditions tougher for nearby mosquitoes and to disperse the carbon dioxide (a major mosquito attractant) that you exhale. Swapping incandescent light bulbs with yellow "bug lights" helps your living space attract fewer insects, too.
You'll also want to dress for the occasion. Ditch any highly fragranced personal-care items like perfumes and aftershaves because they make mosquitoes home in on you more easily. Since mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors, stick to lighter-colored outfits that are also loose-fitting (which makes it harder for them to bite you through the fabric). And just like with ticks, tuck your shirt into your pants and said pants into your socks.
So as the weather cools down, cold and flu "bugs" aren't the only ones you'll have to worry about... Don't let your guard down when it comes to ticks and mosquitoes.
P.S. Just like a tick or mosquito bite can go unnoticed until the real harm sets in, the same goes for a short moment of disruption in your brain.
That "blip" has happened to a third of American adults, causing a few symptoms for just a brief moment. Only 3% ever call 911. But that complacency can become deadly... because you're ignoring your body's urgent warnings that the brain's blood supply has been disrupted. When that happens, something worse could soon follow. I covered it in this month's issue of my Retirement Millionaire. If you're not already a subscriber, click here to get started – and to learn how a recent event few are talking about could cause a monetary reset.
What We're Reading...
- Something different: Switch on the light... to fight allergies.
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
September 23, 2025