7 replies to this topic

[crappie-tom]

This product may become popular in NEPA this year out of necessity.   Never in 34 years had I ever seen Ticks like I did in 2011. It wasn't just the county I was hunting either. Numerous reports from friends hunting different counties reported the same.  Lack of winter this year might mean another banner year for the deer tick.    Has anyone used this product?   Are tick populations growing in other areas of the country or is this just an isolated case?
Thanks
c-t

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMzUAkOWmlo

[Highlander]

This line of clothing uses an EPA approved process called Insect Shield® Repellent. They use a pesticide called Permethrin for this. I assume that the Permethrin is micro-encapsulated to make it last longer. Permethrin is an irritant to ticks and fleas and will kill them if exposed long enough. Permethrin is used in some spot flea and tick medications you get for dogs and cats. Same principal except put on clothing. Permethrin is the active ingredient in many fly bombs and sprays you buy at the store. I have not tried it, but sounds interesting. You can now buy products with this process in shirts, pants and other apparel. This product will work on fleas as well. Permethrin used in Pest Control will effect quite a large variety of insects, so it is possible that it may help keep other insects off as well, but am not certain about this.  

This link provides more facts for those interested:

Insect Shield® Repellent
http://www.insectshi...ology/faqs.aspx



Regarding tick populations, they have done studies to try and discover what increases their populations. From the studies they have found correlations between early springs where temperatures above 65 degrees activate ticks to reproduce sooner which results in higher populations in the summer. They have found droughts reduce the number of tick nymphs (babies) that survive & perhaps reduce rodent populations. Extreme winter snow/cold reduces rodent populations as well & tick populations. Rodents carry more ticks by far than all the other animals put together, simply because of their numbers, so anything that effects rodent populations will also effect tick populations. Fleas follow suit.

Rocky Mounted spotted Fever cases in the US have remained fairly stable. The Lyme tick disease reports are on the rise, perhaps doctors being able to now diagnosis this disease better, has something to do with this. Not that many years ago, doctors had no idea what it was. HTH.  

Edited by HighlandHunter, 29 January 2012 - 11:56 PM.

[Highlander]

I found the EPA label. It does include other insects that it controls. Do not dry clean these products.  (they updated this label shown here with some items)

http://www.google.co...nccjx0AtrHT6gug  

From the label:

REPELLENT APPAREL Repels

ticks

ants

Fleas

mosquitoes, flies

chiggers, midges.

Repellency

remains effective

for 70 washings.

Do Not Dry Clean

Edited by HighlandHunter, 29 January 2012 - 11:53 PM.

[Highlander]

One other word of caution when out hunting or hiking:

Ticks tend to climb up higher on vegetation and stand there with the legs held up and grab on what ever they can. In some cases they can be lower to the ground and grab your shoes or socks if exposed. If they do this they will climb up under your pants where the product may not effect them. It is best to tuck your pant legs in your boots to keep this from happening.

Fleas are most likely found in animal bedding sites. As soon as you walk through these areas with heavy flea populations they feel the vibrations and jumb up for a blood meal. If you have ever gone through a bedding site for deer and suddenly find you are inundated with fleas bitting the living day lights out of you, next time you will remember this trick.

Edited by HighlandHunter, 29 January 2012 - 11:35 PM.

[crappie-tom]

HighlandHunter, on 29 January 2012 - 11:30 PM, said:

One other word of caution when out hunting or hiking:

Ticks tend to climb up higher on vegetation and stand there with the legs held up and grab on what ever they can. In some cases they can be lower to the ground and grab your shoes or socks if exposed. If they do this they will climb up under your pants where the product may not effect them. It is best to tuck your pant legs in your boots to keep this from happening.

Fleas are most likely found in animal bedding sites. As soon as you walk through these areas with heavy flea populations they feel the vibrations and jumb up for a blood meal. If you have ever gone through a bedding site for deer and suddenly find you are inundated with fleas bitting the living day lights out of you, next time you will remember this trick.

Thanks for all the info HH.  Ticks are also 25ft up in a tree and higher.  Never had to deal with them before last year.
c-t

[robertyb]

You can buy sprays that contain Permethrin to treat your clothes with. It last through several washings. I have used Permanone spray that Walmart used to carry for years and have never had a tick on me after spraying all my clothes. No odor once it dries.

Seed & feed stores usually have it in concentrated form and I think you could dilute it and wash you clothes in it or use it as a spray. It is NOT to be used directly on your skin.

[Highlander]

3M Ultrathon SRA-6 Insect Repellent, 6 oz Spray

This product has both Permethrin and Deet in it. Is odorless and last like the other sprays for clothing. Deet is about the best repellent for insects that I have found. This is another micro-incapsulated product for slow release and lasts longer.

If you buy concentrated Permethrin liquid for other purposes and dilute it down, the product may not be micro-incapsultated, which would mean it would only last for a few hours then break down. Other products used in agriculture (not for spraying on clothes) may have other chemcials in it as well which you would not want on your clothing for our purpose and could be much more toxic. So you gotta be careful what you use. I would stick with products labeled for our purpose.

During the mosquito season, I use 99.9% Deet products on my hat and that works the best to keep them away from my face. I don't like it on my face, since it can burn your eyes if you sweat. I haven't tried this product yet, but the combination may be better. A similar product with the same ingredients is what the military is using now, or at least the product that my son (Marine) showed me.  

Edited by HighlandHunter, 31 January 2012 - 10:04 AM.

[Highlander]

Double post.

Edited by HighlandHunter, 31 January 2012 - 10:03 AM.