Each year when the final bell rings at school, people begin to venture outdoors for the summer. From barbecues to hikes, summer activities seem to be endless.

However, people aren’t the only ones becoming more active outdoors this time of year. During the summer mosquitoes, ticks and red bugs come out of the woodwork to disturb sunny vacation time.

“We see more bug bites in the summer because more people are outside,” said Dr. Susan Chiarito of Mission Primary Care Clinic. “People are out working in the garden, sitting in the grass and hiking in the woods.”

Chiarito said some of her common summer cases include bites from spiders, ticks and mosquitoes. She added that chiggers, or red bugs, are also a familiar problem during the summer.

“It’s important to protect yourself,” Chiarito said. “Spraying bug spray onto clothes helps, and so does protecting yourself with clothing.”

The Mississippi State Department of Health echoed Chiarito in the importance of summer protection from bugs.

According to the department’s website, it’s important to wear long-sleeved, long-legged clothing with socks and shoes while being outside if possible, especially near wooded areas.

The website also says the time frame between dusk and dawn is a peak mosquito biting time, and it’s best to avoid the outdoors or be extremely careful.