Just booked a trip to ocracoke N.P. I have visited the island in the past and never had a problem with them. But the campground reviews say they are bad in the area. Any suggestion for repellent for them and can they get through the window screens?

There are several varieties of "no-see-ums" and they are seasonal. The sand fleas of the southeastern coastal and Piedmont regions are terrible! Many of the southeastern no-see-ums I've encountered can get through regular screening, too - we keep the windows and doors closed and use the ACs. When FT Stewart, GA, was the 24th Infantry Division, they used to go to the field smelling like a French bordello because Avon Skin-So-Soft was the only thing they found (at the time) that would keep them off. Troops must have bought the stuff by the gallon. There may be better repellents now.Rob

My wife uses Ultrathon from Amazon.com. Great reviews and works for her.clicky

Cdaddy wrote:Just booked a trip to ocracoke N.P. I have visited the island in the past and never had a problem with them. But the campground reviews say they are bad in the area. Any suggestion for repellent for them and can they get through the window screens?Never been to that locale but have spent time at Fire Island National Seashore which seems to have a similar landscape. This is my " never travel in buggy areas w/o it" go to:Sawyer's PermathrinWorks for no see 'ums,skeeters/gnats, and most biting flies and was developed for use by US troops during various Middle East conflicts. I spray it on my tents as well as sitting around the camp fire and hiking clothing and chairs. It acts as a repellent for some bugs and an insecticide for others. I find the non-aerosol pump bottle gives the best bang for the buck. I think I've got the TT protected if it doesn't work on hard surface (I don't know but the people @ Sawyer's toll free number are very helpful and can say yea or no) by attaching a Paha Que screen accessory to my TT's entrance and spray it w/ Sawyer. No idea what type of RV you'll be traveling with or how fine a gauge your window screens are but you can just add a layer or 2 of bridal veiling/ mosquito netting to the windows that are sprayed with Permathrin and attach using a spring rod or just duct tape it to the window and door frames. The veiling costs about 4 bucks @ yard and comes in 72" to 108" width so a little bit goes a long way. The active ingredient in Sawyer's product is Picaridin so if you find a different manufacturer's version look for that name. You can buy it at REI, Cabela's and some Walmart's. We get two 16 oz bottles every camping season and always have a little leftover. For exposed skin we use DEET w/ a concentration of at least 30%. I've found that the wipes are more effective than the sprays since there is less chance of missing a spot. Costs more but hey sometimes you just have to pay.HTH.

This is the spray of choice here in Florida. https://www.amazon.com/NO-NO-SEE-UM-Natural-Insect-Repellent/dp/B00CO6SF78/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492511820&sr=8-1&keywords=no+see+um+spray(soory don't know how to make this a clicky) My son-in-law fishes in the Everglades and this is the product that works best. When in the hardware business we would sell hundreds of bottles of this a year. It's all natural and WORKS!

Bzeitham wrote:This is the spray of choice here in Florida. https://www.amazon.com/NO-NO-SEE-UM-Natural-Insect-Repellent/dp/B00CO6SF78/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492511820&sr=8-1&keywords=no+see+um+spray(soory don't know how to make this a clicky) My son-in-law fishes in the Everglades and this is the product that works best. When in the hardware business we would sell hundreds of bottles of this a year. It's all natural and WORKS!Here's a clickable link for ya:All Natural DEET Free Product

No see ums | Good Sam Community

NCWriter
Explorer
Apr 20, 2017
Guy Roan wrote:
Snowbirder here for the past fifteen years in the Florida Keys and the Everglades, where we live with No-see-ums.
A Thermacell is the absolute best thing you can use.
You can get them in Lowes, HomeDepot, Wally World or Bass Pro Shops.

We can sit around the picnic table all evening as long as we have that going.

Guy

A poster on this board that we met in person down in the Keys once also swore by the Thermacell, so we bought one. I know those things (and other powerful insecticides) definitely do work, but the smell literally made my gums start to ache. I started feeling congestion in the sinuses, headache, and tightness in my chest. So I wonder if they might be a little too effective against other species, too.
garyhaupt
Explorer
Apr 20, 2017
I have replaced all of my screens with No-See-Um screening A finer mesh and it works well...'usually'.

As for a natural product...you want a glass sealer, a handful of fresh crushed up parsley and bottle of Apple Cider vinegar. Into the sealer with the parsley and cider and into the fridge overnight. I have a handy dandy little spray bottle that is pocket sized..spray all over the exposed areas. Yeah..you can smell it..till it dries...then no smell and works like a hot ****.

Gary Haupt
nineoaks2004
Explorer
Apr 20, 2017
Living in Fl. most of my life, the thing I usually use is the good dryer sheets,
i rub them on exposed flesh and keep a couple in my shirt pocket. They will come right thru regular scree, keep the doors closed and the AC o, will help too.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Apr 19, 2017
DallasSteve wrote:
Vick's VapoRub everywhere? Sounds like that would be a good contraceptive, too; it would sure cool my jets.

:B
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Apr 18, 2017
X3 on Avon's Skin So Soft.

My sister recommended it as she lives in Florida. The past three times that I have been to Florida I have been eaten alive by no-see-ums. They leave big ugly red spots on your legs/arms (where ever they bite).

So, I bought a large pump bottle of the stuff to keep in the motorhome and it really works.

Safe travels,
MM.
AJBert
Explorer
Apr 18, 2017
X2 on Avon's Skin So Soft. Comes in many different varieties including sun screen and doesn't smell like bug spray.

Permathrin is great for fabrics but will eventually wash out after about a month so you will need to reapply now and then. And, yes, you can spray the screens and it will work on them.
ScottG
Nomad
Apr 18, 2017
They can get right through window screens.
I replaced most of my screens with special, No-seeum screen I bought on line. It has much smaller openings. It has a down side though; it tends to make things look hazy when your looking through it.
Guy_Roan
Explorer
Apr 18, 2017
Snowbirder here for the past fifteen years in the Florida Keys and the Everglades, where we live with No-see-ums.
A Thermacell is the absolute best thing you can use.
You can get them in Lowes, HomeDepot, Wally World or Bass Pro Shops.

We can sit around the picnic table all evening as long as we have that going.

Guy
DallasSteve
Nomad
Apr 18, 2017
Vick's VapoRub everywhere? Sounds like that would be a good contraceptive, too; it would sure cool my jets.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Apr 18, 2017
This may sound crazy, but I watched a YouTube video a few days ago. It was one of those that gave all kinds of helps and tips on common household items and all the multiple uses they have that no one has ever thought of before. Well, it turns out that Vick's VapoRub is a good insect repellent. I've never tried that yet for bugs, but it's suppose to repel everything from fleas on your pet to mosquitoes on your neck. It wards off pets from peeing where you don't want them and keeps raccoons out of our trash cans.

Also, if you have a headache, put some on your forehead and your temples. Within 10 minutes your headache will be gone. My wife tried this and it actually worked! She has migraines and has been through thousands of dollars of prescriptions to help ease the pain. This simple trick worked! (believe it or not!)

Rub some on your belly fat and go to bed. It's suppose to help shrink up the belly fat over time.

Not to mention, with all that VapoRub everywhere, your sinus's stay wide open! (that's the benefit "I" got out of it!)