Summit Responsible Solutions

Lyme Vaccine: The First in Over Two Decades Moves Toward Approval

💉 For the first time since 2002, a Lyme disease vaccine is close to reality.

In March, Pfizer and Valneva announced Phase 3 results for their investigational Lyme vaccine candidate. The trial showed roughly 73–75% efficacy in preventing confirmed Lyme disease in participants aged five and up, with regulatory submissions planned for 2026. If it's approved, it could reach the U.S. market as early as 2027.

Some context on why this matters: the CDC estimates about 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease every year. The only vaccine ever marketed here, LYMErix, was pulled in 2002. There has been nothing since.

It's genuinely encouraging news. And it doesn't change what you should do this weekend.

A vaccine—if approved—would be one more layer, not a replacement for the basics. It also wouldn't address the other tick-borne illnesses out there: Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, tularemia, or alpha-gal syndrome.

So the fundamentals still matter:
✔ Treat clothing and gear with Summit® Green Armor® Insect Repellent before you head out.
✔ Stay to the center of the trail.
✔ Do a full tick check the moment you get home—ears, hairline, waistband, behind the knees.
✔ Add an EPA-registered repellent for skin
✔ Keep a Summit® Tick•Take™ where you'll actually reach for it.

Good news is worth celebrating. Prevention is still worth doing.

Late Summer Hiking Tick Awareness

🥾 Cooler mornings make August one of the best months to hit the trail.

Before your next hike:
✔ Stay in the center of established trails.
✔ Wear long pants when possible.
✔ Treat clothing and gear with Summit® Green Armor® Insect Repellent before your adventure. It's for fabric and gear—never skin—and it should be fully dry before you wear it.
✔ Perform a full tick check when you return home.
✔ Keep a Summit® Tick•Take™ Tick Removal Spoon in your pack.
✔ Don't forget to check your four-legged hiking companions, too.

Nature is full of amazing places to explore—and a little preparation helps keep the focus on the adventure.

What's your favorite hiking destination?

https://summitchemical.com/summit-green-armor-insect-repellent/

Houseplants Coming Back Indoors

🪴 As summer begins winding down, many gardeners start bringing patio plants back inside.

Before you do, inspect them carefully.

Tiny fungus gnats often hitch a ride in moist potting soil. If you notice small flying insects around your plants:
✔ Allow the soil surface to dry between waterings when appropriate.
✔ Remove dead leaves.
✔ Use Summit® Sticky Traps for Houseplants to monitor flying adults.
✔ Treat larvae in the soil with a "tea" made from Summit® Mosquito Bits®.

A little prevention now can make for happier houseplants all season long.
How many houseplants do you have?

🥬 August gardens are still producing—but they're also attracting hungry visitors.
Cabbage worms, loopers, and other leaf-eating caterpillars can quickly damage vegetables if left unchecked.

Summit® Biological Caterpillar & Webworm Control contains Btk, a naturally occurring bacterium that specifically targets leaf-eating caterpillars while helping preserve beneficial insects when used as directed.

Regular garden walks make it easier to spot problems early and keep your vegetables thriving.

https://summitchemical.com/products/biological-caterpillar-webworm-control-btk/

What's growing in your garden right now?

West Nile Virus is already active this summer, and the numbers are worth paying attention to. According to the latest CDC data (updated August 4, 2026), human WNV cases have been reported in mosquitoes' favorite states from coast to coast, with Arizona reporting more than 71 confirmed human cases — the highest total in the country — and California and Texas among the handful of states in the 9-to-18 case range. Most other states sit lower, but the virus is clearly on the move nationwide.

Delaware doesn't have any confirmed human cases on the books yet for 2026, but that's not the full picture. DNREC just announced the state's first WNV detection of the year, found in sentinel chickens monitored statewide. Health officials use these flocks specifically because they pick up the virus in local mosquito populations before it shows up in people. In other words, the virus is already circulating — the absence of human cases so far doesn't mean there's no risk. Mosquito season runs well into October, so now's the time to stay proactive, not wait for a headline to catch up.

The good news: you don't need harsh chemicals to fight back. Mosquito Dunks® and Mosquito Bits® use Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) to target mosquito larvae in standing water before they ever take flight, and they're labeled for use around beneficial insects when applied as directed. Pair that with draining what you can and treating what you can't, and you're covering both ends of the mosquito life cycle.

🦟 Dump what you can and treat what you can't, and you're reducing your risk of future mosquito biters.

Monarch Migration Begins

🦋 Did you know some monarch butterflies begin their incredible migration in late summer?

Over the next several weeks, millions of monarchs east of the Rockies will begin traveling thousands of miles toward their overwintering grounds in Mexico. Monarchs west of the Rockies head for the California coast instead.

You can help support these remarkable travelers by planting late-season nectar sources such as:
🌼 Asters
🌼 Goldenrod
🌼 Blazing Star
🌼 Zinnias

Every flower provides an important refueling stop along one of nature's most incredible migrations.

Have you spotted a monarch yet this summer? Share your monarch photos below!

CowPots® for Fall Gardens

🥬 Did you know August is the perfect time to start many cool-season vegetables?

Depending on where you live, now is a great time to start:
🥬 Lettuce
🥦 Broccoli
🥬 Kale
🥕 Carrots
🌿 Spinach

CowPots® make transplanting easier because seedlings can go directly into the garden in their biodegradable pot, helping reduce transplant shock.

Fall gardening starts now!

What are you planting this fall?

Summit® Green Armor® for outdoor activities!
August means practices, games, camping trips, and weekends outdoors.

Before heading outside, don't forget about your gear.

Summit® Green Armor® Insect Repellent with permethrin is designed for clothing and outdoor gear—not skin—and helps repel and kill ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers, and mites when used as directed. Treated fabric continues to work for up to six weeks, even after laundering.

Great for treating:
🥾 Hiking boots
🎒 Backpacks
⛺ Camping gear
🧢 Hats
👖 Outdoor clothing

A few things to know: apply to fabric only, let everything dry completely before wearing. Pair it with an EPA-registered repellent with DEET or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus on exposed skin for the best protection.

Preparing your gear before your next adventure helps you focus on making memories outdoors.

https://summitchemical.com/summit-green-armor-insect-repellent/

Summit® Green Armor Insect Repellent REPELS & KILLS TICKS, MOSQUITOES, CHIGGERS & MITES. Protection for You and Your Loved Ones Against Disease Spreading Ticks and Mosquitoes.

🌱 Late summer is the perfect time to collect seeds from healthy plants. Sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, marigolds — allow seed heads to dry naturally.