While this may seem quite obvious, it is important to be sure you’re treating a bug bite and not something else, like poison ivy.  Plus, some symptoms may be similar to other medical conditions, especially if you are allergic to the bug that bit you. If someone was stung inside the mouth, nose or throat, or is experiencing a possible severe allergic reaction, call 911 or 999 or take the person to the ER right away.  People who are suffering in this way may need medical intervention to help them breathe, and will likely need some sort of medication in order to alleviate the symptoms (e.g. epinephrine, corticosteroids, etc.).  If the person who was stung has a known allergy to certain bug bites, she may carry an EpiPen (a portable shot which delivers epinephrine) with her.  If she has one, follow the instructions on the EpiPen to administer the medication to the person immediately. The person must still see a doctor immediately, even if you have administered a shot of epinephrine. If the person who was stung is not having a serious allergic reaction (or wasn’t stung inside his airway) he may be okay temporarily.  If he starts to experience any of the following symptoms, he may need to go to the doctor for further treatment.  Secondary infections can be caused by itching and causing a break in the skin through which bacteria can enter. The skin is the first layer of defense against infection. Persistent pain or itching, fever, signs of infection at the bug bite location. As an example, if this person has an infection, he will most likely need antibiotics in order to fight that infection.

Summary: Recognize the symptoms of a bug bite. Know when it is an emergency. Know when to follow up with a doctor.


Spread out the Magic Mesh, laying it over the ground or another large, flat surface. Make sure the magnets are aligned in the middle. Note that the top of the Magic Mesh will have a larger gap between the magnets and curtains than the bottom. While the Magic Mesh is laid out, open and close the magnets down the middle to see if they attract. Be sure that each set of magnets lines up evenly. If the magnets are not symmetrical, this could leave a gap in your Magic Mesh that will let bugs into your home. Note that you will need to separate each pair of magnets before installing the screen. Peel the backing off of the soft side of each adhesive strip. Apply the exposed adhesive directly to the back of the Magic Mesh screen. Spread each of the 12 strips provided across the entire frame of the mesh. Make sure that each strip sticks to the screen securely.

Summary: Spread the Magic Mesh out on the ground. Check the magnets to make sure they align symmetrically. Attach the 12 adhesive strips to the Magic Mesh frame.


Your fish tank should hold about 1 gallon (4 L) of water for each shrimp. No matter how many you have, ghost shrimp will be most comfortable in at least 10 gallons (40 L) of water. If you have to keep your shrimp in a tank smaller than 10 gallons (40 L), allow 1.5 gallons (6 L) or more for each shrimp to make up for the small space. The hardest part of breeding ghost shrimp is keeping the young shrimp alive. If you let the eggs hatch in the same tank as the adult shrimp, the young could be eaten by the adults. This second tank doesn't need to be as large as the first, but a larger tank will give the young shrimp the best chance at survival. Filters are necessary to keep aquarium water clean. Most filters suck the water in to clean it, but these can kill the tiny ghost shrimp young. Use a sponge filter instead to avoid this possibility.  If your tank is larger than 10 gallons (37.9 L) and contains fish as well as shrimp, you should use a hang-on or canister filter to provide better cleaning. Never use anything besides a sponge filter for the breeding tank. If you don't want to buy a sponge filter, you can cover your filter's water intake with a sponge or a piece of nylon stocking. Alternatively, if your filter intake is too weak to suck in adult shrimp, you can disconnect the filter before the young hatch and replace 10% of the water volume in the tank every day until the young are fully grown and you can turn the filter on again. Like most aquarium pets, ghost shrimp need air pumped through the water in order to breathe. Without an air pump, the water will run out of oxygen and the shrimp will suffocate. Sand or light gravel will keep the shrimp transparent, while dark gravel will cause them to develop small specks and make them more visible. Pick any color and type you like. For additional detail in setting up a freshwater aquarium, see this article. Many places treat tap water with chlorine, so treat it with a dechlorinator or chloramine remover to make it safe for animals. At the very least, leave it out for 24 hours before adding the shrimp so some of the chlorine will evaporate. This is the broad range of temperatures ghost shrimp are comfortable in, but many people prefer to stick near the center of this range. Put a thermometer in the tank to check the water temperature, and use an aquarium tank heater if you keep the shrimp in a cold room. Ghost shrimp feed off the debris that falls from plants, but you can keep them with just store-bought food if you'd prefer not to deal with plants. Aquarium plants with fine, thin leaves are the best to use, such as hornwort, cabomba, and milfoil. If kept in a tank with other fish, small flower pots or other containers should be placed upside down to provide hiding places only the shrimp can enter.  For best results, give your plants about a month to stabilize the chemical levels in the tank. Sudden changes in nitrogen levels or other chemicals could kill your ghost shrimp. See this article for instructions on planting aquarium plants. Adding plants to the breeding tank in advance is strongly recommended, as plant debris is one of the few foods small enough for the shrimp young to eat. Many people use Java moss in their shrimp breeding tank, which may trap food debris to help the young shrimp eat.
Summary: Purchase a large fish tank. Purchase a second tank for breeding. Use any filter for the main tank, and a sponge filter for the breeding tank. Install an air pump in each tank. Cover the bottom of each tank with sand or gravel. Fill the tanks with appropriate water. Keep the water at 65-82º F (18-28º C). Add live plants and hiding places.