Insect Repellent
More Articles Related to Survival GearAnyone who has spent time in the outdoors can relate to the misery that aggressive blood sucking insects can inflict. The incessant buzzing and circling of dozens or even thousands of flying insects intent on doing harm have driven countless people indoors or even insane. Crawling insects such as ticks and chiggers lay in wait for victims and in many areas of the world are a very serious problem.
Although being bitten by mosquitoes, flies, tics and other insects is no fun, the bites in and of themselves are usually not dangerous. However as vectors of disease and misery, insects rank high on the list of threats to people in the outdoors. West Nile, Lyme disease, dengue fever and Malaria are several of the most common diseases associated with insect bites.
Methods of Repelling Insects
A number of strategies have been devised to repel insects or prevent insects from biting. These include:
- Covering exposed body parts with mud or clay. This "primitive" method is very effective. Though it will not repel insects, it is an excellent way to keep insects from biting. Used for thousands of years by people and animals for protection against insect bites, mud is time tested and proven. Should the survivor find himself without insect repellent or choses to extend his supply, mud can be put to effective use.
- Smearing on a thick layer of protective grease or fat is another primitive method to keep insects from biting. Grease has the added benefit of trapping insect pests. Often when a biting insect flies or crawls onto the grease, its wings or body will adhere to the surface and prevent its mobility - thereby eliminating the insect as threat.
When working in the forest, I would often smear the outside surface of my hardhat with cooking oil. Upon touching its surface, pesky flies, deer flies, and mosquitoes and other insect pests would become entrapped. My hat would become covered with trapped bugs, a sort of La Brea Tar Pit of the insect kingdom. The result was I needed to use less insect repellents and I had the satisfaction of stopping insects cold. - Covering the body with clothing or nets. Every inch of exposed skin is an invitation for biting insects to dine. Protective clothing should be loose and thick enough to prevent insect stingers from penetrating.
A well covered body prevents insects from getting near enough to the body to bite. Be sure cuffs at the ankles, wrist and waist are well secured so that crawling insects cannot get between your clothing and skin. Wear a headnet over a wide brimmed hat to keep the net off of your face and neck.
One problem with using the clothing method to keep insects from biting is that it can become very hot, especially if you are active. Clothing that contains insect repellent within its weave can be thinner and therefore cooler. - "Natural" preparations and concoctions. Various plant juices, extracts and oils have been used for centuries for repelling insects. These include a host of ingredients such as eucalyptus and wintergreen oil, citronella, garlic, cedar, pine tar, and kerosene.
I have tried a number of these insect repellents many of which are odiferous indeed. Although some do help, when insect pests are thick you many need something stronger.
One possible natural insect repellent that may work well is a product called Bite Blocker. Bite Blocker is made using a base of geranium and coconut oils with the addition of soybean oil and may last several hours between applications. - Modern chemical insect repellents. The most commonly used insect repellent that works, and works well, is DEET. Another is permethrin.
Permethrin Insect Repellent
Permethrin is also an insecticide, which means it kills insects. The EPA Environmental Protection Agency recommends using permethrin on clothing, nets, and camping gear. Since permethrin should not be used on bare skin, it has only limited in use by outdoorsmen and the survivor.
The Best Insect Repellent
Hands down the best insect repellent contains DEET or N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide. Products containing DEET are available under a large number of brand names including Deep Woods Off and Bens 100. The higher percentage of deet in the insect repellent the longer the protection it provides according to the following chart:
- 25% DEET provides protection for 5 hours.
- 20% DEET provides 4 hours of insect protection.
- 5% DEET offers two hours protection from insects.
Of course this gives only a base from which to go from. Results will vary according to conditions including temperature and exposure to water due to sweating, rain, etc.
The longer you plan to spend outdoors, the higher the concentration of DEET you should use. In general products containing more than about 1/3 DEET are unnecessary as all you have to do is reapply from time to time to continue with the full effect of the insect repellent.
Ultrathon
Ultrathon is a newer insect repellant that contains 1/3 DEET and a special control release polymer that allows it to stay effective against insects for twelve hours. Ultrathon is is water resistant, which is important in any wet or sweaty outdoor or survival situation.
Flora IL
I have found by experience that mouth wash works very well for keeping the bugs at bay! In fact I find it works better at repelling bugs than even those citronella candles! We tried it at our camp site when the bugs were out and with in seconds they were gone, We then later went out and found that the bugs had just moved elsewere. We used the mouth wash with out any menthol.
Survival Topics - very interesting and I will certainly try this.
Northern Maine
I've recently talked to someone who swears by using dryer sheets. Have you ever heard of that? He said just wipe them all over any exposed skin and it will work far better then any bug spray on the market. I've yet to try it.
Virginia
I've tried the Repel Lemon Eucalyptus (little spray bottle) and in my experience it's amazing. I don't like to put DEET on myself anymore so I was happy to find this nice-priced product. I really like it, it's easy to apply, and so far has been amazingly effective at keep ticks, mosquitoes, and apparently even mayflies & horseflies away. Heck I even like the smell.
The downside I've found is, it doesn't seem to last nearly as long as the DEET products I've tried. Not a problem if you're carying a bottle of it with you, but when I use it for long runs through thr brush I generally wear very little to weigh me down, so I don't have the bottle with me.
Wyoming
35% of Yarrow juice/resin is "camphor" and I have found that it'll repell any insect! I have never known it to not work. Grind it between your palms and rub yourself down. Sages, or any Artamissea are also good insect repellents.
ms
i have read that drinking tea made from sassafras root on a daily basis will work as an insect repellent. Alternately, crushing the leaves and sticking them in pockets or behind ears is said to work but not as well as the tea. Haven't tried it yet myself, try it when the weather warms up and well let you know.
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