The ticks are out in full force!! Strongest repellent?

CrazySlasher · May 12, 2011

I can't walk two feet in the woods without getting covered in ticks right now. Having long hair doesn't help either. I'm going to have to start braiding it or something. What is the most potent tick repellent on the market?

djm of PA · May 12, 2011

here you go: http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-SP602-Odorless-Permethrin-Repellent/dp/B0009KMWES?tag=treasurenet01-20

this stuff is LETHAL, you can actually see them hit your pants leg, spasm and then fall off after about 30 seconds! Not sure the effects on the human though $:-\$
Just be sure you don't wear the clothing until they are dry and do not spray directly on the skin!

djm of PA · May 12, 2011

I should also mention, if you have a Tractor Supply nearby, you can go get a gallon of permethrin pretty cheap and then just dilute it and spray it on. cheaper by far in the long run, but you have to play a little bit with the dilution to keep it lethal

lonesomebob · May 12, 2011

The material is actually made from white daisies.

jeff of pa · May 12, 2011

Permethrin is a synthetic of a natural insecticide in flowers. Its applications include a clothing treatment to repel and kill ticks, mosquitoes and more.

http://www.doktordoom.com/permwhat.htm

Bum Luck · May 13, 2011

Yup, Permethrin kills the little buggers before they can latch on to you.

Never did figure out how DEET keeps them from biting, but I don't believe it. DEET works for skeeters, though.

Permethrin on clothing does work for clothes (and I use it on my hair as well). Never been bit by horse flies, deer flies, or stable flies (look like house flies but hurt like heck).

They land, they die. Think of it as doing your part for biology.

Don't forget about chiggers; these nasty little cruds are miserable to get rid of, actually burrowing under your skin to torment you for weeks. Permethrin gets them before they dig in.

CrazySlasher · May 13, 2011

Thanks. Just ordered that bottle of Sawyer's off Amazon.

Produce Guy · May 13, 2011

This use to work for me,buy B-1 tablets,put 'em in a pill crusher and pour the crush tablets in a bowl and add some water,just enough to make a paste,afterwards put paste on your boots,socks,etc.
This also works against chiggers. :icon_thumleft:

RPSwede · May 13, 2011

Ok fellow MD'ers, please be careful of this product. Its fairly safe but dont go overboard with it. It will kill your pet cat just about as fast as it will kill ticks! But will not harm dogs( commonly used in tick and flea control for dogs). For many years I used permethrin based products to control bugs in my nursery and sprayed for one of the largest nursery in the states. Now if i get even close to the stuff I get very ill and end up sick in bed for a week. Again read the instructions and warnings carefully and HH :icon_thumright:

Oh!!! make sure to wash it all off before feeding your fish tank, it will kill all aquatic life and and all other cold blooded animals!

tabjunkie · May 14, 2011

All have good advice. I deer hunt early Sept. when the bugs are out full force. Am in the woods a 1/4 mile
from bay so very marshy with zillions of mosqitoes and ticks. Here in DE we like to call them the state bird

Anyway, after learning the hard way about using some kind of repellant I tried permethrin because when dry it is
odorless and have actually seen the ticks climbing my shirt sleeve and just dropping off. Walmart sells spray
made by Repel called permanon that really works good.Can find it in the camping section. Just hang clothes on a hanger and saturate everthing.
Pants, shirt , hat, gloves. I even spray my socks. Just let everthing dry for 24hrs. before putting on and the stuff
last about 6 weeks even after several washings. For face protection I use a $2.00 mesh bug mask. Hope tips help you. BTW chiggers only bite you, not burrow under the skin. The itching you get is a reaction to the saliva they use when boring a hole with their mouth pieces. (Google it)
Jay

Bum Luck · May 14, 2011

RPSwede said:
Ok fellow MD'ers, please be careful of this product. Its fairly safe but dont go overboard with it. It will kill your pet cat just about as fast as it will kill ticks! But will not harm dogs( commonly used in tick and flea control for dogs). For many years I used permethrin based products to control bugs in my nursery and sprayed for one of the largest nursery in the states. Now if i get even close to the stuff I get very ill and end up sick in bed for a week. Again read the instructions and warnings carefully and HH Oh!!! make sure to wash it all off before feeding your fish tank, it will kill all aquatic life and and all other cold blooded animals!

I've used permethrin for maybe 20 years, and I'm still OK with it, and I spray it on my hair. Occasionally it gets on my skin, maybe more than occasionally.

I've used DEET longer than that, and I still use it when I can't avoid it on my skin, but it makes my skin 'crawl', which I take to be a nerve reaction to it. It does melt plastic - pencils, paint, etc.

I use 50-60% DEET, and there are times the bugs are so ravenous that I have to reapply it every 10 minutes. I don't like those times.

from Wikipedia:
Recently, DEET has been found to inhibit the activity of a central nervous system enzyme, acetylcholinesterase, in both insects and mammals.

Maybe that's why I get the reaction to it.

I feel that you are safer using Permenone on your clothes, and covering as much of your body in light colored, loose fitting garments.