Insect bites during field work

[ellphea]

I am researching bees in SE Kentucky and have been getting absolutely devoured by mosquitoes while collecting bees in the field. Does anyone know of an environmentally friendly way of avoiding mosquito bites without repelling or negatively affecting bees? Keep in mind that overheating is a concern, so heavy clothing is not an option. 

[wollastoni]

Well, even if not safe for the health, I use classic anti-mosquitos sprays in the tropics.
I see no other solution really efficient and mosquitoes can be a nightmare in some places (especially the tiny Thai ones ! )

I always wear trousers (even when it is 40°C) to avoid more bites from mosquitoes, leeches, horseflies or tiques.

[nomad]

Even in a hot country wear as mentioned long lightweight trousers and long sleeves and if they are that bad, get a hat with a midge net.  Scottish style. The latter is a must have to protect the face..

[Deleted]

For some reason I get covered in insect bites doing field work, it coincides with being diagnosed with a blood disorder a few years ago which I will have for the rest of my life, before I never used to get any, my son, who is healthy gets none either, I get well stocked with antihistamine cream to soothe them, horse flies bite lumps out of me all summer, add all this to chronic hay fever and field work can be quite a chore but it just makes me treasure my specimens even more.

[ellphea]

Thanks. I have been wearing a head net, as well as pants and long sleeves, but I keep getting bit through clothing. I will probably have to use bug spray.

[jshuey]

Jul 19, 2016 15:35:26 GMT ellphea said:

Thanks. I have been wearing a head net, as well as pants and long sleeves, but I keep getting bit through clothing. I will probably have to use bug spray.

Try treating your clothing with permithrin (sold as Sawyer or Repel in stores in the US).  This has a long-lasting (several washes) mild insecticide that generally makes bugs uncomfortable when they land on your cloths.  (This is for your clothing - not your skin!).  You can buy "pre-treated" shirts and pants from places like Forestry Supply as well.

You should be able to find a product in any department or sporting goods store that sells camping or hunting supplies.

John

[exoticimports]

Hell with it, use DEET. Sometimes in life one has to pick battles, and this is not one to struggle with.

Chuck

[neominois]

When I went to Peru it was recommended that I bring 100% DEET. I tell you, the stuff works, but it will eat through plastic and melt the ink right off a silk-screened tee-shirt!

[bobw]

Mosquitoes are the bane of most bugging trips. You can wear long trousers and long sleeves but many places are too hot for that, and leather is about the only thing that the little buggers can't get their proboscis through. It's not worth risking, I use a minimum 50% DEET, it's not very nice stuff but I've tried using other things and DEET is the only thing that really works.  If you don't think you need it try going to the arctic in July without it!

I admit that I react quite badly to mosquito bites.  On a recent trip to far-east Russia I got a couple of bites on my right ankle the first night and the picture below shows what it looked like a week later (and it looked much worse in real life).  Three weeks later I still can't get a shoe on my right foot.

Bob

[cabintom]

So... I'll probably die young. I almost always forget to apply bug spray or sun screen. In 2014, I spent a week collecting out in the Congolese jungle, without any chemical insect protection, my wife joined me for a few hours on a couple of those days. I did just fine (one ant sting excepted). She, on the other hand, contracted loaloa parasites (having a worm crawling around in your eyelid does not seem fun).

I'll point out that I'm constantly on anti-malarials, and have received pretty much all of the vaccines you can get through the Canadian medical system... still should probably develop better habits.

[Paul K]

I agree with Jan about anti malaria pills.
Also keep in mind they are not 100% effective and you can still get it . Malaria in most cases is fully curable if treated in time. What you would have to worry is virus diseases as there is no cure for those and some of them could be fatal . For example yellow fever in South America and Africa or Japanese encephalitis in Asia. Fortunately they are vaccines available for those.

Paul

[cabintom]

Doxycycline is very effective against the malaria strains here (as long as you ensure to take it every 24hrs), and there's no evidence that it causes any long term issues (according to the CDC). The big issue is if you forget to take it on time everyday. Now, before you all think I'm not taking this seriously, I have a friend who came to within hours of death from combined malaria/typhoid... fortunately, he was medi-vac'd out of the country on time.

Aug 4, 2016 23:31:55 GMT skandinavisk said:

Would never consider wearing soaked hiking boots a whole day in Palawan! Flipflops dry in a few minutes after crossing a river....

I've been quite happy with my gore-tex hiking boots... as long as it doesn't flow in over the top of the boot I can stand in water and my feet stay completely dry. I couldn't imagine collecting in flipflops! Too many safari ants and whatnot... and bilharzia and whatnot in the water.

[luehdorfia]

Even in Europe you have to be quite careful. Southern Germany for example is on of the riskiest areas in Europe for tick-born viruses and bacteria, you can get both lyme-disease and FSME. Although I always carefully apply insect repellant, I got bitten this summer and have to take antibiotics now against lyme disease, hopefully after the 14 day treatment everything is fine again.