Chiggers and Spiders and Ticks. Oh my.

I use various products from Sawyer, especially the time-release skin lotion and the spray which goes on your clothing. The latter lasts through several washings. You put it on the clothes while you are NOT wearing, then let them dry. Disclaimer: these have been effective against California bugs. I've heard of chiggers, not sure we have them here.

Here's another product I'm going to try this summer: Kite Products.

Bill

Most of the insects down south will stay away from most of the major brand repellents. We usually spray on "Off".

'OFF' and afterwards a good self inspection (or partners) then a hot shower.

Long pants (I never wear shorts in the woods, if it's too hot to wear pants then I simply don't hike) and if going into really thick tick country a pyrethrin based spray or cream can be applied to the lower 4-6" if the pants. I've spent upwards of 20 percent of a year in the woods and never been bitten by anything worse than a mosquito or no-see-um.

Tiger4x4RV wrote:
I've heard of chiggers, not sure we have them here.

We don't. Mostly in the south, as in the deep south. You really can't see them unless you are really looking hard. Spent a couple of years in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Lots of them there. I basically never wandered into the bush. (more for fear of the snakes, then the chiggers and ticks). Any of them can ruin your day.

Tiger4x4RV wrote:
I use various products from Sawyer, especially the time-release skin lotion and the spray which goes on your clothing. The latter lasts through several washings. You put it on the clothes while you are NOT wearing, then let them dry. Disclaimer: these have been effective against California bugs. I've heard of chiggers, not sure we have them here.

X2
Sawyer Permethrin

Haven't used their the skin products yet but have found the spray on Permethrin works well for clothing and other textiles like screen houses, tents and chairs.

For skin I use 30% DEET mosquito wipes; several companies make them- Woodsman, Repel, Ben's, to name a few. I find there is less waste with the wipes over the aerosol sprays. Can't find the wipes? Just make sure you get a product with at least 30% DEET as the active ingredient anything less is just not as effective.

Not sure about spiders although Permethrin works as an insecticide for daddy long legs. For sure it works on chiggers, ticks, biting flies and mosquitoes.

I've had good success with tea tree oil. It's non-toxic and is well known as a good insect repellent. I live on the gulf in south texas and when I have it on me, no mosquitos. Mix a couple of ounces in a spray bottle with water and spray it on you. I usually just use a cotton swab and straight oil around my pant legs and exposed skin.

there were chiggers in iowa and I remember folks dumping sulfur into their socks to keep from getting attacked.
bumpy