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Post by tallgrass on Jan 25, 2016 20:46:25 GMT -8
Just a reminder, if using permethrin try to avoid getting those cloths in the water. That stuff is super toxic to fish.
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almostthere
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putting on my hiking shoes....
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Post by almostthere on Jan 26, 2016 8:24:58 GMT -8
Permethrin is meant to dry into the fabric of the clothes. Once there it lasts through 5-8 washings in the laundry -- it's not that easy to taint waterways. What you need to do is not get the liquid into water that animals can access -- it will kill fish, amphibians and cats exposed to the liquid form of it.
It is however used to do away with scabies (in a lotion form) and chiggers, and it's used on livestock routinely (I get it cheaper by buying a stronger version for livestock via Amazon, and dilute it sufficiently for use on my clothes).
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korey
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Post by korey on Feb 13, 2016 21:22:32 GMT -8
Pineapple weed (Matricaria Discoidea). Obviously this is dependent on finding some, but if you can, grab a handful, mash it up a bit, and rub it on neck, arms, etc. DEET has always made me feel nauseous and I hate the feeling of most repellents, so I usually just resort to long pants and shirts and lots of swatting, but pineapple weed has solved those problems and is more effective than any of the sprays I've used anyway. I've never tried permethrin though and have been meaning to.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2016 12:39:51 GMT -8
From the backwoods of Maine where the flies are the state bird. This is from great-grandma Ruby:
Do not head a match head for the sulfur. Do this:
Thoroughly mix together 2 tsp. sulfur, 1 tsp. of Cream of Tartar and 1 pint of honey in a pint jar. Sulfur can be found over the counter in most pharmacies.
Take 1 tsp. of this recipe every day. It will take about two weeks for the repellent to become effective.
Continue consuming this recipe throughout the mosquito season. Be certain to thoroughly mix this recipe before consuming it.
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Post by Coolkat on Mar 14, 2017 9:24:34 GMT -8
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Mar 14, 2017 9:56:31 GMT -8
I know that Mythbusters did a mosquito show and had one similar which had no noticeable effect.
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Post by Coolkat on Mar 14, 2017 10:32:04 GMT -8
That is interesting tigger, and wouldn't surprise me. I'm kind of asking because it looks similar to what my uncle (who hunts a lot) uses in the backcountry and swears by his. However, he clips his to his belt but if I remember right it gets on the warm side.
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Post by hikingtiger on Mar 14, 2017 10:35:24 GMT -8
Unless you're a diabetic vampire.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Mar 14, 2017 15:32:29 GMT -8
Long sleeves, gloves, and a headnet are just about all I ever use.
ETA: Among other things, I don't like having to worry about melting my sleeping bag, pad, tent, or rain gear.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Mar 14, 2017 15:58:16 GMT -8
^^ Come visit me for a paddle trip. I'll have you buying stock in 3M.
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Post by bluefish on Mar 14, 2017 16:19:23 GMT -8
www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/herbal-remedies/pennyroyal-safetyI've grown Pennyroyal from the Sierra to New England and have found it very effective for skeeters and blackflies. I'm also fond of head nets and light long sleeves. I have used DEEt, but much less so after getting a bad chemical burn on a week long trip in the Sierra. I got the burn underneath the straps of my trekking poles. It was incredibly painful and we bailed early to get some medication in Bishop. They warn to not put Deet underneath clothes.
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Mar 14, 2017 16:31:47 GMT -8
They warn to not put Deet underneath clothes. I use Deet only on select spots unless I'm in a blood sucking storm - My neck, arms (if exposed), and my ankles. According to the studies I've read, it confuses their radar so it isn't needed to coat your body.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Mar 14, 2017 19:40:30 GMT -8
^^ Come visit me for a paddle trip. I'll have you buying stock in 3M. I made it through 11 days in Boundary Waters / Quetico without repellent, so I'd still take my chances. My headnet was on nearly the whole time, which was a pain at mealtime. The only real bother was looking like I had measles from the black flies biting through my shirt. I'm glad we were there before real black fly season and had to deal mostly with mosquitoes.
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dice
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Post by dice on Mar 14, 2017 20:19:07 GMT -8
Ticks like light colors, mosquitos like dark colors, DEET is the only "scientific" method, one study suggested lemon and eucalyptus actually attracted bugs, I have however for a period of 2 hours after application had it work quite well.
Skeeters prefer the rarer blood types, as well as body mass, and are attracted to co2, also being sick will help repel them, healthy host healthy blood healthy bug. So be the sickest, smallest coolest person in your party.
Garlic I did notice worked for both ticks and skeeters, but only once you literally sweat garlic smell, been there done that, difficult.
My uncle recommended absorbean (absorbine?) jr for gnats, and one of those mosquito fans like the clip to your belt things for mosquitos, it seemed to work, but we where on a lake shore soo..
the only fool proof is a bug net, the girlfriend wore a whole bug suit all summer flagging. I've applied 100% deet twice in an hour and sweat it off in july getting to my favorite trout lake.
I found a natural mosquito repelant soap at a local state park that smells like hippie that works for a good four hours or better, but attracts flys.
as far as "natural" repelants go squished ant works, smells like lemon (citric acid) and repels skeeters I imagine theres also a hormone response because nothing NOTHING in the bug kingdom will mess with an ant, and bugs function largely off hormone response, both interactions with other bugs, mammals and plants.
the BEST thing I think Iv'e found is to have 10,000 bats (DNR estimate of the colony) living in your house with you, even living in 10 acres of swamp not a bug to pester you...sadly the sheet rock fell and the bats moved out and most of what I owned was thrown away and we put on a new roof.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Mar 15, 2017 5:15:19 GMT -8
Sometimes for when I am moving I put just a little DEET on the back of my legs and back of my arms. This amount would not keep them away sitting still at camp but seems to protect me when I slow down for a tricky part of the trail or to check my map.
On reading this thread I Google'd "How does DEET work". I always held the theory that it binds to their smell receptors "blinding" them. That's why I used the above strategy. Leaving a DEET cloud behind me and not having to cover myself all over. But it turns out there is some research now that DEET may also "stink" to mosquitoes.
I have wondered if there is any utility to putting DEET on the rocks or fallen wood surrounding my camp. I haven't because DEET doesn't seem like something to be putting in the environment more than necessary. Something that melts plastic so well scares me a little.
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