dice
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Post by dice on Mar 15, 2017 9:52:42 GMT -8
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. I think tigger siad it, but deet is a nerve agent, and can actually effect humans in large doses, I know an ex millitary man who has complications due to deet exsposure, but it messes with thier nervous system and confuses them, it's interesting you found that it "stinks" to them, something I allways thgout myself. I have tryed spraying an area with deet, and it helps but not a significant amount, I know like if you would spray say a tarp you where under it would help, but if you just spray it around yourself in the open it dosen't seem to, I think the wind carrys to much of it away to be effective.
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Mar 15, 2017 10:06:26 GMT -8
The most effective mosquito 'repellent' I've ever used was a hiking buddy who attracted them more than I did.
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crick
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Post by crick on Mar 15, 2017 16:35:09 GMT -8
Natural oils such as Lemon Eucalyptus and Neem oil are also good mosquito repellents.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Mar 15, 2017 17:05:49 GMT -8
Natural oils such as Lemon Eucalyptus and Neem oil are also good mosquito repellents. These might be good candidates for using on your surroundings, if they work. None of the naturals I have tried seem demonstrably effective. I use Neem oil soap to kill pest bugs like white flies on my organic veggies in the garden. But that works by making the water able to drown them. Organic and safe for food though.
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dice
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Post by dice on Mar 15, 2017 17:57:39 GMT -8
I use Neem oil soap to kill pest bugs like white flies on my organic veggies in the garden. But that works by making the water able to drown them. Organic and safe for food though. I don't think that 100% correct, neem is a also a hormone disruptor, as far as mites go for plants, it actually causes them to stop eating and reproducing, by making thier brain ignore such biological ques, wich is why you need to treat plants twice with neem oil befor actually fixing the issue, because the eggs are a barrier to the oil and once they hatch the second generation is not affected, they breed about once a week. I've never used the soap, all ways go for the oil and dilute about 5 ounce per 20 gallon. spent the last five years using neem indoors, 3 treatments, 3 days apart, submerge the entire plant. I hadn't thought about it as a bug repelant however..interesting idea, I do drink the neem tea when ill.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Mar 16, 2017 17:05:29 GMT -8
I don't think that 100% correct Google is so handy. Neem soap does drown bugs and eggs. Both use the same trick to stop drowning by "normal" water. Surface tension stops water from getting down the small holes (spiracles for bugs and aeropyles for eggs) they use to breathe. The soap breaks the surface tension and then they can drown. But the Neem oil in the Neem soap does what you said about the hormones to insects that feed on the treated plant (won't hurt bees though) and additionally acts as a repellent to some bugs/slugs by smell and/or taste. From the discoverneem.com site (consider source): A 1995 study at a field station the Malaria Research Centre in Ranipur, Hardwar, India, tested a mix of 2% neem oil mixed in coconut oil.
They showed that applying that mixture to the skin provided significant protection from various mosquitoes. It worked best against anophelines, offering 96-100% protection! (The malaria transmitting anopheles mosquitoes fall into this group). The numbers for other species were 85% for Aedes (carries dengue fever), 61-94% for Culex spp. (can carry West Nile virus) and 35% for Armigeres.Aedes are also the Zika carriers. I may try some.
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Post by WinterWorth_Miller on Mar 17, 2017 2:35:27 GMT -8
People who are in relatively weak body shape tends to absorb mosquitoes
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2017 5:12:27 GMT -8
In Idaho, I think the mosquitios have little too eat, at particular times of the year. The safe and natural ways just don't seem to cut it when there is a visible cloud of skeeters surrounding me. During those times the only thing I found that keeps em at bay is DEET. When there are not clouds of skeeters I use Martin's Permethrin 10%, 32oz - 1 Quart thined down, with water, to the off the shelf treatments found at REI of 0.5%. A bottle of Matrins is way less costly than, say, Sawyer. Heck, I used to treat my entire rain fly (Cuban fiber is waterproof) with Martins and that worked real well. Open screen door and skeeters are not rushing in to devour me. With the Martins, I found better results were from soaking the cloths instead of spraying. For years I used Ultrathon as my go to source of DEET. I was never thrilled with the greese feeling but Ultrathon worked and lasted a long time on those tough sweaty trails. A few years ago, when we went to REI to pick up some Ultrathon they were out so we ended up getting some Repel Max Formula Lotion. Now that stuff is great! The first time I used it, I applied a 2nd coating just because it felt so good on my skin. I do not feel as if I am wearing a layer of greese with the Repel lotion. Good stuff.
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Post by WinterWorth_Miller on Mar 18, 2017 0:49:20 GMT -8
Are there any other natural repellent choices?
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davesenesac
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Post by davesenesac on Mar 19, 2017 8:45:16 GMT -8
For decades my prime backpacking season in the Sierra Nevada has been near the end of mosquito season when seasonal streams from snow melt are still flowing and vegetation is most green and flowery thus aesthetic. Long ago learned how to cope with mosquito conditions and have written much about doing so on this and other boards. Many outdoor enthusiasts including well experienced ones struggle with mosquitoes and that is usually because they resist wearing protective clothing and dislike using strong DEET on their face and hands that is the only body parts that ought not be covered. Part of that is because DEET does irritate skin including mine. However that has not seemed to cause long term damage to my own skin as my facial skin look years younger than an average person my age though that may be more due to genetics, that I've never smoked cigarettes, and use sunscreen religiously.
And note about the only time and place I get bitten is on the back of my hands and wrist because as a photographer I don't want anything oily on my hands while at work lest it get on my lenses and camera. So frequently dip my hands in streams that removes any protective DEET. Otherwise the key to coping with squeeters in mosquito season is to fully cover skin areas of the body as is possible with fabric mosquito probosci cannot penetrate.
The most popular hiking uniform of not only backpackers but also especially day hikers is also the poorest set of clothing to be out wearing during mosquito season. Thus avoid wearing cotton t-shirt, baseball cap, and hiking shorts. Such clothing in our region is terrific AFTER mosquito season say by mid August and later but before then one will increasingly suffer.
Nylon clothing with a tight weave that probosci cannot penetrate is the ticket. One need not bother with Permethrin if probosci cannot penetrate. But the most important article of clothing is head gear because a creature's head in places uncovered by protecting hair is where mosquitoes zero in on by evolutionary nature and ground zero are ears. Mosquitoes understand 2 eyes are in the front of a beast thus tend to fly around the back of heads where they are less noticed. Accordingly a hat with a long neck drape that also covers ears frustrates that tactic. I've been wearing this Dorfman Pacific Co. Men's Supplex cap for years. As a sun hat it has a long bill and the neck drape is Velcro detachable.
www.amazon.com/Dorfman-Pacific-Mens-Supplex-Khaki/dp/B003P36KEE/ref=sr_1_1
Another key to not attracting blood suckers is not being sweaty, grubby, dirty, stinking... that is popular with the majority of backcountry visitors as though it is a badge of being tough. And the flying Draculas love that. EVERY day we dunk ourselves fully under available water even out of mosquito season because I dislike being grubby at night. Doing so is another discussion.
David
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Mar 19, 2017 20:11:16 GMT -8
DEET doesn't irritate my skin but when I put it on I get like a warm flush all over. It seems like some of it goes right through my skin into the blood. I don't know if this is really happening but the immediate systemic reaction makes it seem that way.
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walkswithblackflies
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Mar 20, 2017 5:43:29 GMT -8
If the mosquitoes/flies aren't too bad, I'll use a natural repellant: Bye-Bye-Blackfly
If they're bad, I go with DEET on exposed skin, and on the back and brim of a baseball hat.
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Post by Charles B on May 16, 2017 8:51:19 GMT -8
+1 to those saying Permethrin. You can spray everything with it. Your hat, shoes, shirt, pants, tent, chair?, bag, pretty much anything that is cloth-based and it lasts up to 6 weeks on gear or and/or up to 6 washes on clothing. It keeps off or kills on contact most of the common parasite type bugs. Mosquitoes and ticks seems to really love my blood so I spray everything I have with it. Keep your stuff away from any pets or animals until it's dry.
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Post by FarOutFarley on Jun 5, 2017 18:26:23 GMT -8
I was tired of DEET so two weeks ago on a day hike I tried Repel lemon eucalyptus oil. I was shocked by how ineffective it was. It reduced the mosquito hoard by about 75%, meaning the other 25% was eating me alive. I had to reapply it every hour. It was miserable. The following weekend I went back to DEET and had a mosquito-free hike. The Amazon reviews of Repel lemon eucalyptus oil are divided---some people (plus Consumer Reports) say it's effective and others say the opposite. That makes me wonder if the results have something to do with individual body chemistry.
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Post by rachelsdad on Jun 11, 2017 22:27:36 GMT -8
Another plug for Repel Lemon Euc.
Just back from a very buggy hike around the High Falls Loop near Cranberry Lake, (ADKs). I inhaled more black flies than I have ever seen. Been using it for years. They swarm, never land. Kept the Deer flies away as well. Skeeters, no issue at all.
Plus I smelled pretty good when I got home, couple spritzes under the arms and you'd never know I was gone 3 days!!
Farout: I posted this before I read your post.
Amazing, It works so well for me I've never gone back to Deet, going on 8+ years. Maybe there is a body chemistry variable.
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