[pct-l] Re: Deet

[HShires@aol.com]

I found that DEET is incredibly effective at very low doses.  I used both 
the cream (nice smelling stuff from REI) and the "jungle juice" (nasty 
oily stuff).  Just a few drops rubbed into the hands and then spread 
vigorously over the back of my legs, arms, and occasionally my face was 
enough to remain virtually bug-free during the daily walk.  Mosquitos 
detect primarily heat and CO2.  If you hike fast enough the exposed skin 
on the front of you is past the leading edge of your scent trail before 
the mosquitos figure out where you are.  It's sort of like trying to 
locate a fast moving plane by listening to the sound.  Mosquitos aren't 
smart enough to look ahead but they can definately stay on the vapor 
trail.  Stopping was a different story and the easiest thing to do was to 
just throw on nylon jacket and pants.  

I don't know if there are any studies why the bugs will prefer one person 
over another but I'm quite sure that some people just react more to bites 
and thus FEEL like they get bitten more.  Whereas some people (me, 
fortunately) itch and swell up for only a few minutes, others react for 
hours or days and hence, over time, the cumulative effect of bites is 
much worse.

Henry

>"Anyone 
>have some rythm or reason as to why the bugs will prefer one person over
>the next? Sweet blood?
> Rusty "MyTie" Johnston"
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