Permethrin... Is it as good as they say?

**WillieCash** · 05-01-2012, 12:21

Thanks for the replies, I ordered a couple of bottles today.

If I am wearing treated clothing (including gloves), hammock, and tarp, do you think I could get away with wearing a treated one of those head nets instead of a full bugnet?

It is in the Sierra Nevadas and we were riddled with mosquitos last year.

**JaxHiker** · 05-01-2012, 12:38

I don't think I'd like something stuck to my head especially when trying to sleep. Personally I think a full net would be better. ymmv.

**Owl** · 05-01-2012, 14:47

I'll find out how good this stuff is this weekend. Treated my hammock, pants, overshirt, hat, and socks with permethrin last week. Treated youngest son's hammock, pants, and overshirt as well. He usually wears a buff and didn't want socks done. Oldest son will also be camping with us this weekend, and none of his gear has been treated. (can you say, test control subject?

)

Usually I come back with 4-5 ticks on me. We'll see what the difference looks like this year.

**Buffalo Skipper** · 05-01-2012, 14:53

Originally Posted by Owl

(can you say, test control subject?

)

Good idea. I often try to bring a little science into each and every outing. And my kids always enjoy it more when they feel like they are a part of the science experiment.

**BillyBob58** · 05-01-2012, 15:11

Originally Posted by WillieCash

Thanks for the replies, I ordered a couple of bottles today.

If I am wearing treated clothing (including gloves), hammock, and tarp, do you think I could get away with wearing a treated one of those head nets instead of a full bugnet?

It is in the Sierra Nevadas and we were riddled with mosquitos last year.

It is something worth experimenting with. I have done it twice now, without even the gloves or headnet. But, I also used Picaridin 20% on exposed skin. I love that stuff, very pleasant and seems to work, and you can even spray it on your clothes if you want a let extra oomph. I think I did on my hat. I did not have piece of mind at an ID lake, because the mossies had really been swarming. But both times I have done it I got away with it all night, never even heard the wine of a mossie using Pic and Perm together. What a team!

Of course you could also use Deet for exposed skin if it doesn't bother you much, along with Perm clothing. But I much prefer the Picaridin.

A simple experiment should tell you. Day hike to the buggiest place you know, at a buggy time of day if it matters, with treated clothing and either the head net or some Picaridin on exposed ski. In fact, if your socks/pants/shirt and sun hat are all treated ( oh, and your pack and maybe your hammock), just for fun don't put Picaridin on, just have it very handy. Now sit or hang a spell. See what happens.

The clothing may get the job done, but if it is really buggy you will probably need a little Picaridin on your face or hair (if no hat ) and a few other exposed spots. And just for fun, take a buddy for a control. Let the buddy use DEET alone, no Permethrin.

If the bugs leave you alone as you sit/hang a couple of hours in a spot you know to be really buggy, even as they swarm your buddy ( but don't bite because of his deet), then you may have a system that needs no bug net. ( they used to swarm me all the time no matter how much DEET I put on, always whining in my ears- I never even hear them with the Perm/Pic combo)

You know, really I have much more experience than 2 nights of no net sleeping in bug season. I should count my day hikes. I am very often hanging and reading/killing time/testing right next to a MS swamp, even in warm weather. I almost never have a net either on the hammock or my head. I have done this on and off for a couple of years. As far as I can tell, all the bugs have moved away from that area.

**FLRider** · 05-01-2012, 15:39

I've never done it with the head net; however, every time I've seen that touted, it's been with the advice to wear a baseball cap underneath the netting. Supposedly, it helps to keep the netting out of your face while you sleep.

YMMV.

**Chug** · 05-03-2012, 11:02

Works for skeeters, and Ticks. Does it work & kill Bed Bugs? case my hotel visit picks one or two up.. Dang things are just Ticks with faster legs.
flea's, I assume it works for them too??..

All my gear, is now treated with the spray.

**beep** · 05-03-2012, 11:22

Originally Posted by Chug

Works for skeeters, and Ticks. Does it work & kill Bed Bugs? case my hotel visit picks one or two up.. Dang things are just Ticks with faster legs.
flea's, I assume it works for them too??..

All my gear, is now treated with the spray.

Permethrin is a broad-spectrum insecticide. It should deal with anything that contacts the treated clothing.

From the EPA's "Red Sheet" on Permethrin...

Uses
Permethrin is registered for use on/in numerous food/feed crops, livestock and livestock housing, modes of transportation, structures, buildings (including food handling establishments), Public Health Mosquito abatement programs, and numerous residential use sites including use in outdoor and indoor spaces, pets, and clothing (impregnated and ready to use formulations).

According to Agency data, approximately 2 million pounds of permethrin are applied annually to agricultural, residential and public health uses sites. The majority of permethrin, over 70%, is used in non-agricultural settings; 55% is applied by professionals, 41% is applied by homeowners on residential areas, and 4% is applied on mosquito abatement areas.

Permethrin is a restricted use pesticide for crop and wide area applications (i.e., nurseries, sod farms) due to high toxicity to aquatic organisms, except for wide area mosquito adulticide use. It is a general use pesticide for residential and industrial applications.

Permethrin also has non-FIFRA pharmaceutical uses as a pediculicide for the treatment of head lice and scabies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves use of the pesticide-containing pharmaceutical under FFDCA.