Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2015 09:24:39 -0500
From: “John R Dykers”
Subject: Re: Ticks…
Great advance in tick bite prevention. Thanks, Andrea, and I will share with Chatlist. This deep freeze WILL have the benefit of lowering the tick infestation. And other bugs too.
John Dykers
—– Original Message —–
From: Andrea T. Deyrup
To: John R Dykers
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2015 9:12 AM
Subject: Ticks…
Hello John,
I saw your posting on the Chatham Chatlist this morning about ticks and wanted to add something to the mix for your consideration.
Before I went to Cambodia, I invested in some ExOfficio clothing that was treated with permethrin, a technique developed by the US military, I believe. The permethrin is bonded to the cloth which can be washed about 70 times before it loses its effectiveness. I find this attribute reassuring since it suggests the repellent isn’t very labile.
Treated clothing can be fairly expensively purchased at REI or other outdoor shops – I’ve paid $60 – 70 for a shirt/pair of pants. BUT, the factory that does the treatment is right here in Greensboro. They will treat a customer’s own clothing for less than $10 an item.
It has been my experience that this works very well for repelling mosquitos and ticks – when I go fishing in Insect Shield socks, pants, shirt, baseball hat and neck kerchief, the mosquitos fly around the exposed skin on my hands, but leave the rest of me alone. I’ve never found ticks on me while using it (I guess one could argue that the socks tucked into pants are the real prevention, but I have found ticks on me when doing that if the clothes aren’t treated).
Tony and I have a pile of clothing that’s been treated including overalls and scrub pants (lightweight!). I’ve recommended Insect Shield to a lot of folks (including my mother who was a pesticide residue chemist for the EPA) and they have all been happy.
I’d be interested in your opinion!
Andrea