Wildlife And Nature Photographers...any Insect Repellent Suggestions?

Fleas and ticks are repelled by lavender and tea tree oil. Skin so soft from Avon if they still make it. Clothing colors play a part also but I cant remember which colors :-) have to google that one.

I use 3M Ultrathon insect repellant. I had some left over from my trip to Africa and found that it works better than the standard repellents like Deep Woods. They make a spray you can use on your clothes, also. The only con is it does contain Deet. The past few years the chiggers and ticks have been so bad that nothing else works for me. Some people have told me that being fair skinned, blue eyed, and blonde hair attracts more insects...not sure if that's true. I'll take the Deet over dealing with the itch from chiggers and picking off ticks every time I go out shooting.

Treat your clothes with Permethrin (sp?) It repels ticks and I beleive chiggers too. I used it when working as a ranger and other similar jobs. Never got a tick while using it, but be sure to follow the directions.

i think i used off deep woods, i'd have to check. i remember unscented was really scented, and fresh scent was breathable. i have to put it on when the tomatoes are out, mosquitoes love tomatoes for some reason.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

75? It was about 15 with 45 mile an hour wind here today.

DEET is the active ingredient you want.

windy here too, around 29f, snow fri.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

Okay I am not sure where one can find it nor what it is called exactly but there is this stuff the military uses that doesn't have any sort of scent to it. Perhaps check some of the sporting stores to see what they might have.

I'm not a photographer but I paint and sketch out in the woods, Deep Woods Off has been the most effective repellent for me too. I actually hate the oily feel of it more than the smell but it's better than getting eaten alive. Whatever you do don't itch your eyes once you've applied it, and don't apply it to your forehead if you think you might sweat, that stuff is murder on the eyes!

I spend a lot of time outdoors and make my own formula based upon what is in dog insect repellent.

It consists of cinnamon oil with ground cloves and garlic and some citrus plus a little cayenne pepper. It lasts for years in a bottle. The dog repellents are good since there is nothing which can harm us.

All this works on garden plants too.

I like bullfrog - SPF and insect repellent

Pamela beat me to it! I was going to suggest Avon's Skin So Soft product also. It has been known to make a great repellent. I can't tell you for sure from personal experience but it's worth trying out and not having other chemicals on your skin. I'm sure you can easily find it online.

One thing to remember with 'Off' is that some of the chemicals can melt plastic. I put a nice fingerprint in one of my camera bodies that way.

i use all natural homemade bug sprays. essential oils and herbs. my recipes are similar to those of wellness mama
http://wellnessmama.com/2565/homemade-bug-spray/

Permethrin....you can watch the ticks die as they crawl up your clothes...I love that stuff. Its most effective as a clothing treatment. Wear it turkey hunting every year and I am literally laying in the grass. I would come home with 2 or 3 on me and maybe one attached every time. I think I found one alive one last year is all in my hair.

20% deet for skeeters over top.

Military uses permethrin as well.

Be careful with Permethrin when You have a cat at home. The failure of an enyme for chemical degradation makes it very dangerous for them.

Garlic pills buy them over the counter.. when I used to fish deep within the swamps of Louisiana ,it would keep anything off of me including my friends and family and spouse..lol. Just start taking them a few days before and then quit when you finish.. it will work for sure and they are good for you. JGP

Have you tried using a ThermaCell? I use one when plein air painting sometimes.

I use "Equate" wall mart brand 50 sunblock. Dual purpose: sunblock and the bugs hate it! Don't get any in your eyes though. I rub it on my legs before a hike and never , ever had a tick even land or attach to me.

I am a magnet for insect bites! Guess that's another reason I LOVE winter! LOL! But, in the summer, I use Off Towelettes. I hate spraying the spray...the towelettes make it easy to put on ears, neck, etc.

Someone told me that insects don't like garlic, either. So this year I'm going to try taking a garlic supplement regularly and see how that works.

Burt's bees has a good one I use the outdoor spray or the balm. Also skeeter spray is good I've used these in the summer in Texas.

Eat lots of raw garlic. Guacamole is tasty and you can really load it up with garlic.

I have issues with strong smells so even unscented Deep Woods is too strong for me although it does work

I use a homemade insect repellent like Ginette and also very similar to the ones on her link of Wellness Mama

I know some who carry a dryer sheet in their pockets and that seems to work as well

Deep woods off is good. I use anything that has the highest concentration of DEET I can find.

As Jason pointed out, you do have to be careful because certain insect repellents can cause certain plastics to break down. Make sure you don't have the wet repellent on your hands or any part of you that may come in contact with any plastic gear or clothing.

Permethrin, DO NOT apply it directly to your skin.

That said typically I use Cutters products. But most insects don't bother me unless there is a heavy infestation.

Melissa, I use the skin so soft for mosquitoes as well as Avon's inspect repellent and anti-itch spray...but I have no idea if these products work beyond mosquitoes....

If you get into the swamps and wetlands they literally cover you. Nothing exposed escapes their wrath. I would recommend netting and anything with deet that says deep woods. Take a bath in it and then go get checked out by a doctor cause it can't be good for you. A good stout wind will keep them off while toking on a cigar. Mosquitos prefer cubans. The alternative is to stay home and take pictures of your dog.

We tried Avon's skin so soft last year because some friends were raving about how good it was - didn't make any difference to the tiger mozzies here they just carried on biting!

. try this . . organic remedy . .
http://wellnessmama.com/2565/homemade-bug-spray/

Another good investment is a head net... a hat with a wide brim will allow it to hang away from your face. I find that it doesn't hamper my ability to look through the viewfinder. Keeps everything away from my face though.

When I lived in Alaska where the flying critters are the size of birds, only products with deet would keep them from landing. Also, light colored clothing, even white, helps. I hate deet and also sensitive so only applied to clothing.

Nothing beats a mosquito net

Deep Woods Off applied liberally to shoes, socks and pant legs will deter ticks. I use a lighter application around the collar and inside my hat.