The world is teeming with bugs, and they're getting worse. From ticks to mosquitoes, these tiny creatures are spreading diseases and causing allergies, making life less pleasant for humans. The situation is particularly dire in the United States, where the number of vector-borne diseases has doubled in the past two decades. Ticks, in particular, are the primary culprits behind these diseases, with Lyme disease being the most prevalent. The trajectory of tick-borne maladies is described as 'explosive', and the situation is only getting worse. The best predictor of tick numbers is the number of white-footed mice, which are in turn predicted by the number of acorns that fall from oak trees. This year, the number of tick bites leading to emergency department visits is at its highest in the past seven years, with ticks spreading out and moving into new territories. Mosquitoes, too, are expanding their ranges, with Aedes aegypti mosquitoes spreading northward at a rate of about 150 miles per year. The good news is that prevention is possible, with the use of repellents and environmental modifications. However, the battle against these tiny creatures is far from over, and the future looks uncertain.
