Has DEET become a DUD?

[jeff0520]

Hello everybody,
We just got back from a great camping trip, but while we wewre there, I noticed something. DEET, both in Deep Woods Off, and Cutter, did not do a very good job of keeping the ticks off of us. Laurie seems to think that the ticks in Bankhead National forest might have developed a resistance to it because so many people visit the park using it.
She's the biologist and all, but it seems to me that the deer, razorback hogs, and other wildlife aren't using DEET, so there's no real pressure to adapt to it. I had a bigger problem than Laurie or her mother, but I like to hike in the deep woods. Over the course of the week I went hiking every day, and ended up pulling a few ticks off every day. Every day I sprayed down with repellant, each day more heavily than the last. Yesterday I sprayed on so much that my clothes were uncomfortably damp with it, and STILL got ticks.
Has anyone else noticed that ticks seem to be ignoring DEET this year?

[GerryS]

I've never thought it worked all that well...

Try vanilla extract...cut it 50/50 with water, and simply spray it on....don't know about tics,but gnats become very scarce

[jeff0520]

I've never thought it worked all that well...

Try vanilla extract...cut it 50/50 with water, and simply spray it on....don't know about tics,but gnats become very scarce

Ticks are my main concern. My nephew and his daughter had a truck breakdown while out four wheeling, and had to spend an unplanned night in the woods. They both ended up getting tick bitten, and contracted Lyme disease from it They learned the hard way to always go four wheeling in groups, and not to forget the cell phone charger.
Gnats I can just ignore, and mosquitos stay away from me when I'm out in the woods because I use a soap my wife makes out of citronella oil and cedar oil. Nothing seems to deter ticks very well though. with the family connection I am a little wierded out about ticks

[nevadatear]

Don't know about resistance, but i know someone who does. As a school nurse, i often deal with lice. We have found dr Richard pollack, noted entomologist from Harvard school of public heath, to be a great resource. He now has his own website at Identifyus. He will answer any question and has tons of info on his site about all things creepy crawly.

[jeff0520]

Don't know about resistance, but i know someone who does. As a school nurse, i often deal with lice. We have found dr Richard pollack, noted entomologist from Harvard school of public heath, to be a great resource. He now has his own website at Identifyus. He will answer any question and has tons of info on his site about all things creepy crawly.

thank you very much. I'll look him up.

[nevadatear]

https://identify.us.com/idmybug/ticks/tick-docs/

[Shadow Catcher]

Deet is not a particularly good tick repellant Permethrin appears to be better.
http://www.lymeneteurope.org/info/deet- ... -repellent

[jeff0520]

Deet is not a particularly good tick repellant Permethrin appears to be better.
http://www.lymeneteurope.org/info/deet- ... -repellent

That's REALLY good info. thanks a ton!

[Bogo]

Deet is not a particularly good tick repellant Permethrin appears to be better.
http://www.lymeneteurope.org/info/deet- ... -repellent

I'll second Permethrin. It isn't a repellant, but instead a neural toxin insecticide. It kills ticks as they try to crawl over your clothes. NOTE: Don't use permethrin on your skin. Spray it on the outsides of your clothes a few hours before wearing them, and let them fully dry before wearing. A treatment will last a couple of weeks and through a couple washings. I use it on my farm socks and pants. It also kills fleas, mosquitoes, chiggers, and many other insects.

[PKCSPT]

Up her in the northwoods of MN I have often felt that bug repellants were more of an attractant, seemed like the more I sprayed the more they bit. But DEET always seems to work for ticks. Maybe your ticks are just hungrier than most?
Keep us posted, ticks are one of a handful of critters that just plain CREEP ME OUT shivers,,, makes me all creepy crawly thinking about them.

[Bogo]

One thing to note on DEET. If the percentage of DEET is to high, it actually becomes less effective. Around 25% to 30% is consider most effective.

[lancew]

remember the ole saying....they just don't make it like they use to.... reduce effectiveness peeps just buy more and use more. its more about their pocket not yours. in the 80's DEET came under big scrutiny. companies backed off the intensity of it. dark clothes and head netting is prolly your best answer. but then again, I don't live in your neck of woods so I don't know how big or small issue it is. we don't have much of a problem here where I live. careful with the premithiyin<sp>.

[48Rob]

careful with the premithiyin<sp>.

I've watched 3 pest control people die from "cancer".
They always claimed their chemicals were "safe" none made it past 55...

Rob

[Dale M.]

I'll throw this out, but do not have any proof it works... Old timer in my area states if you wash with "Irish Spring" soap, the ticks will avoid you as the do not like it.... I by chance do use Irish Spring and live in areas known for ticks, and in last five years have encountered two ticks.... One actually got me, and one crawling across my clothing....

Never thought much about using insect repellant for ticks, but do use it for mosquitoes...

Dale

[jeff0520]

Unfortunatly Irish Spring is NOT an option as it would be a VERY effective wife repellant. I used to use it, but she developed a nasty allergy to it