The importance of good insect protection
This is an important subject. The dangers of mosquitoes in many parts of the world are well known, and recent research suggests that Lyme disease from ticks is greatly under-reported and is many times more prevalent than previously thought.
There are three issues:
Treating clothing so ticks are killed on contact before they can reach your skin, and biting insects are repelled so you can wear more breathable clothing rather than uncomfortable, tight-woven insect-proof fabrics.
Preventing bites on your skin.
Avoiding the little buggers in the first place
Treating clothing & insect netting
Your best (and only) choice here is the contact insecticide permethrin, which was developed by the US military. The EPA has reviewed the evidence and regards it as safe and effective. It is known to work on ticks, mosquitoes and over 50 other types of insect. It is odourless once dry, and doesn't damage clothing.
There are 4 ways to use it, in decreasing order of effectiveness and longevity:
- Factory applied - which should last for the life of the garment and is offered by an increasing range of manufacturers
- After-market application by a specialist service
- Washing it into your clothing
- Spraying it onto your clothing, which should last up to 6 weeks provided you hand wash or use a wool programme (it is damaged by vigorous washing).
The well known trekker Andrew Skurka has been testing factory-applied clothing with guided groups in tough conditions in Alaska and has found it very effective. Anecdotal evidence from blogs and forums also suggests that it works well.
Protecting your skin
The options here are less clear. Permethrin isn't suitable, and while DEET is effective there are increasing safety concerns, and bans are being introduced in many jurisdictions.
My own experience is that solutions that work for some don't work for others - the factors that attract biting insects are complex and seem to vary from person to person. So trial and error is required.
The failsafe approach is to use netting and clothing as a barrier. You can even buy or make netting mits. Nets treated with permethrin are more effective, as insects will be killed before they can find any gaps in your protection.
With DEET on the way out, the emerging alternative is Saltidin (also known as Icaridin) which was released by Bayer in 2001. It is regarded as less toxic, is more pleasant on the skin and doesn't attack plastics, but it's not quite as effective as DEET in high intensity situations. It's pretty popular in Scotland for countering the dreaded midges, though as always some people find it doesn't work for them.
Another alternative popular in Europe is Wilmas Nordic Summer Insect Repellent based on Scandinavian folk remedies - no research that I'm aware of, but lots of anecdotal evidence that it works for some. Has a strange odour like a wood fire which is not entirely unpleasant.
The final option popular in Scotland is, strangely, Avon's Skin So Soft body spray (blue bottle). It became widely used by the Royal Marines after their wives reported that it worked. There are rumours that the SAS and the US Special Forces are using it for jungle warfare. Some swear by it, while others find it useless.
Another popular remedy is B-vitamin supplementation or patches, but this has been carefully studied and found to be ineffective. Taking garlic capsules has not been researched, so far as I can determine, but researchers are open minded that it might be somewhat effective.
Finally you might want to keep an eye on the guys at Kite Products who raised over $500,000 through crowdfunding to develop what they claim, with some credibility, to be a breakthrough mosquito repellant. They should be launching their first products in 2016.
Avoidance is the best cure - if not always possible!
It hardly needs saying, but whenever possible try and avoid exposure:
- Know the bug seasons and try to avoid them.
- Steer clear of dense vegetation, boggy ground and other breeding areas
- Stay high or in windy areas.