next message in archive
next message in thread
previous message in archive
previous message in thread
Index of Subjects
_________________________________<br>RF Lauff<br>Way in
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_017A_01D31533.9BD46620
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="UTF-8"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hi Randy & All, Aug 14, 2017
I agree; there is no reason to use them. For some 80 years I have hardl=
y ever used insect repellants and bites itch and swell only when I am in co=
untry new to me (different species I suspect). The body somehow adjusts.
For those who routinely use repellents and consider switching, there is=
no need for martyrdom. Just endure a few bites before you apply repellant =
and in a few weeks you won't itch or swell. Also, if you let Mosquitoes loa=
d up on blood most or all of the irritating blood thinner will be removed d=
uring feeding.
Sometimes I need to work near a wasp nest which I have disturbed and De=
et has so far proven effective so I keep some in the pack.
My greatest concern with mosquitoes is the absence of them in our yard.=
I often sit out in the yard during or after supper and have seen very few =
this summer. There are lots in the woods so someone in our neighborhood is =
killing them. How can bats recover if there is nothing to eat ?
Yt, DW, Kentville
----- Original Message -----
From: Randy Lauff
To: NatureNS
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2017 2:42 PM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] insect repellents US review
I know this goes against the grain, but have any of you tried...nothing a=
t all?
I realize that there are a very few circumstances where one must go into =
mosquito-ridden areas. However, when disease transmission is effectively ni=
l (as in NS), can you just not tolerate a few bites? I am now 20 years with=
out using repellent, not even once, not on my clothes...nothing. Seriously,=
mosquito bites are itchy for a little bit, then no issue.
I really think bug repellent companies have turned this into a much bigge=
r issue than it really is, and most people think they *need* repellent.
I also do not use mosquito jackets...the hoods have some redeeming value,=
but the jackets allow *more* access to your skin than if you just wore a l=
ight shirt...the weave of jackets is so loose that the proboscis of the mos=
quitoes has much less trouble getting through when compared with the tighte=
r weave of shirts.
I also understand that some people are apparently more attractive to biti=
ng flies than other people. However, I also think that like driving (imposs=
ibly, we can't all be "better than the average driver"), there are a lot of=
people which think that "mosquitoes just love me more than anyone else"
I do support the use of a repellent for ticks or biting insects, *if* you=
live in an area where disease-carrying critters are a problem.
Randy
_________________________________
RF Lauff
Way in the boonies of
Antigonish County, NS.
On 14 August 2017 at 13:34, Stephen Shaw <srshaw@dal.ca> wrote:
The latest (Sept 2017, page 17) print issue of US-based Consumer Report=
s briefly evaluates 24 bug repellents, aimed at mosquitoes but saying that =
their tests showed that they appeared also to repel ticks. The scores rang=
e from 95 (tops), down to 4 (poor). Six of the top 9 top recommended brand=
s contain only DEET, 2 contain picaridin, and 1 contains Oil of lemon eucal=
yptus. These are US-based products, unclear if all/any available in Canad=
a. The report can be reviewed without a subscription at
CR.org/repellents0917
access to which is a bit clunky but worked for me on checking it out. =
The CR review doesn=E2=80=99t mention Piactive or icaridin, probably becaus=
e the primary focus was on mosquito repellents. The review comes down on p=
lant-based =E2=80=98botanicals=E2=80=99, which it says are not EPA register=
ed and which they say they found ineffective.
Steve (Hfx)
On Aug 8, 2017, at 7:03 PM, David Patriquin <davidgpatriquin@yahoo.ca> =
wrote:
When I am in the "right place at the right time" to get black-legged =
ticks, especially the nymphs, I use a combination of light coloured (so I =
can see ticks), pyrethroid-treated clothing and a personal insecticide wit=
h pyrethrin or pyrethroids (synthetic analogues of pyrethrin) to ward them =
off.
This summer I began using the Piactive product. I was walking some c=
learcuts in early July with a colleague who had sprayed exposed skin but ha=
d untreated clothing. Walking the same route, he picked up 5 black-legged t=
icks, I picked up none.
The Piactive product (which contains icaridin, a pyrethroid) is said =
to be good for 12 hours; it doesn't smell bad like Deet, nor does it dissol=
ve some synthetic clothing as Deet does.
Regardless of whether I have been wearing treated clothing & using th=
e personal insecticide I am always on the lookout for ticks on my skin when=
I shower.
So far so good.
View
versicolor.ca/noticks
for some of my sources.
David G Patriquin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "klantz@ns.sympatico.ca" <klantz@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Sent: Tuesday, August 8, 2017 6:46 PM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] RE: Black-legged Tick and late fall
I don't use a repellent for ticks as they are present around my yard =
and I would have to apply it every time I go outside. I have tried Piactive=
for mosquitoes & black flies, it is 20% Icaridin and seems to be comparabl=
e to deet. The label states that it is also effective for Ticks so I suspec=
t it would provide some protection.
Kevin