Insects

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Thanks offroad! I just happened to have allergy medicine with diphenhydramine and started taking it, I'm up and walking again! Still have some pain when standing or walking but it is going away.
 
spiritual - glad the experiment worked. everyone is different, but diphenhydramine helps bug bites. I have a mild reaction to bug bites myself, and this drug, or time are the only way to fix the issue.
 
 The secret is not to wash and develop that thick layer of toxic goo on your skin. An added benefit is that it also repels two-legged critter too!
 
I've used Permithin on my clothes and it works, bugs (including mosquitoes and ticks) won't land on it so they can't bite through it or crawl around to find skin. One treatment in the spring should last through the summer if you don't wash it too often. Especially treat hats and socks to keep ticks away. The Army treats its uniforms with it for troops going into malaria country.<br /><br />Buy the Benadryal (or generics) in liquid gel caps and apply it directly to the bug bite and I get instant relief. Plus that way it doesn't put you to sleep.<br /><br />I have a friend who swears that fresh Pine sap rubbed on the bite brings instant relief, but I haven't tied it myself. Bob
 
&nbsp;Insects also can't drill through US army ripstop BDU's.
 
Willy - good point about ripstop BDU. Used to have that with military duty. Bugs are agressive when they look at you as food.&nbsp;<br /><br />
 
So many dangerous bugs.<br /><span style="font-size: medium; color: #ff0000;"><strong> Here are a few most people don't know about, or never suspect. They don't need to be provoked and they don't need you for food.</strong></span><br />Please look them up for the safety of you and your pets.<br />Every one of these nightmares has gotten me at least once:<br /><br />Saddleback Caterpillar (I stepped on it barefoot. Had to go to the ER and I'm no sissy.)<br />Puss Moth caterpiller (totally looks like a fluffy harmless thing you can flick away. DON'T TOUCH IT!!)<br />Buck Moth caterpillar (large and hideous, you wouldn't want to touch, but they fall on you out of the trees. In clumps.)<br />Two Lined Walking Stick/Florida Walking Stick (Had no idea they could or would spit poison aimed for your eyes from 4 feet away.)<br />Stink Bugs/Stink Beetles (Eeuuww. Just eeuuww. Don't squish them with your own shoe, and if the Beetles jack up and aim for you - run.)<br /><br />and here are a few which I hope never to encounter:<br /><br />Flannel Moth Caterpillar<br />Hag Caterpillar/Monkey Slug<br />Io Moth Caterpillar<br />Spiny Oak/Slug Caterpillar<br />Bot Flies (If you grew up on ranches or around farm animals, you know what these are.)<br />Chiggers.
 
I don't know about the rest you list but sulfer mixed with talcum powder and liberally dusted on your shoes/boots should take care of the chiggers and ticks. I have to use it in the woods around where my dog likes to go.

Wade
 
Lostinspace said:
I don't know about the rest you list but sulfer mixed with talcum powder and liberally dusted on your shoes/boots should take care of the chiggers and ticks. I have to use it in the woods around where my dog likes to go. Wade
Never heard of that one.&nbsp; Talc's cheap.&nbsp; Might try it next time I find myself somewhere sharing my body with unwanted guests.<br /><br />Thanks for the tip.
 
I live in Tallahassee during the week at a coworkers house. They let me keep my dog there and I pay them a stipend. Anyway, they have deer that like to bed down in their yard at night. We're talking maybe 4 or 5 at a time. And deer are great sources of ticks, fleas and chiggers. So he has a duster he keeps in the garage to dust his boots when he works in the yard.

That's where I learned of the sulfer trick. Seems to work.

Home is 13 miles above Bonifay.

Wade in NW Florida
 
About the <span id="post_message_1275121414">Permithin...&nbsp; Can I treat my dogs harness that she wears?&nbsp; <br></span>
 
Kidiekat, I put it on my clothes. I cannot imagine it being a problem for animals. It stays in the fabric and doesn't bother you. It seemed to be weaker than a flea collar.


 
Not sure on the sulfer, maybe a feed and seed place. Or try Tractor Supply. They have farm stuff. If I remember in the morning I'll ask.
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Oh I forgot to mention in post #30 above. The sulfer is cut half and half with talcum powder. Edited to add...
 
I will have to remember the sulfur talc mix thing I have never heard of it, and a good natural replant for mosquito, if you don't like covering yourself with chemicals is actually catsnip oil
 
Sulfur works like a champ to deter chiggers.&nbsp; Try it on a small area of your skin to test for sensitivity first.&nbsp; At a Girl Scout day camp I helped with, we stationed two girls at the front gate with buckets of sulfur and fuzzy wands (maybe foam toilet brushes or dusters--it's been a long time).&nbsp; As each camper entered, their socks were dusted.&nbsp; Those with allergies tied a red bandana to their ankle before approaching the gate to ward off the eager dusters.&nbsp; One note:&nbsp; It doesn't smell good, and is made worse with sweat.&nbsp; Still...&nbsp; Not much worse than chigger bites.<br><br>Vickie
 
Use the sulfur at 1/3 sulfur to 2/3 talcum powder ratio. This ratio keeps the sulfur from burning your skin. You can get it at Seed and Feeds or a Tractor supply place.
 
Permethrin on out door clothing, include hat and shoes and socks, a long sleeve loose fit white shirt.<br>&nbsp;Also on window screens, sleeping covers tents every thing but pillow and skin.<br>Permethrin repels biting fly and mosquitoes. Kills ticks crawling on the treated areas.<br>Walmart sells in a trigger spray bottle.<br><br>I used to use flying insect household spray, but the formulas have changed.<br><br>Ammonia on stings and bites works also.
 
Frontline brand works for pets. Also get them a heart-worm shot.
 
Frontline finally quit working for Sugar. I use Comfortus now. Pricey but good stuff. It's a pill you give the dog. Sugar doesn't like it, so I grind it into a powder and mix in with some wet dog food. She thinks it's a great treat now. It's about $75-$80 for 6 months worth. But Sugar is 75 pounds. A smaller dog is cheaper.

It's supposed to be monthly but it will last sometimes 3 months before she starts getting problems. Longer in the winter than the warmer months.
 
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