[at-l] DEET alternatives.

[stephensadams@hotmail.com (Steve Adams)]

Gravity restricts us to living on a plane.  We walk forward, backward, right 
and left, but not up or down (although tripping and falling seems to bring 
momentary relief from insects).  Insects have overcome our restrictions.  
They don't usually fly straight and level, but in a pattern something like a 
spiral or "figure eight."

I have read conflicting reports, insects are attracted variously to light, 
bright, and dark colors.  They notice colors at a height first, i.e., 
something on top of your head.

A baseball hat reduces insect's access to your face and neck.  A hat brimmed 
all around is more effective, and broad-brimmed hats seems to frustrate them 
quite effectively.  Insects are territorial, and when I am moving - - as in 
hiking - - I seem to be able to pass through the territory of insects before 
many of them figure out how to defeat the brim of my hat; probably less than 
5% of them put this together.

I wonder whether you actually want to attract insects to a brimmed hat?  If 
they are going to notice you anyway, perhaps an attractive (to an insect) 
hat will reduce their attention to other exposed body parts.  The 
effectiveness of the brim should then allow you to pass through them 
relatively unmolested.

A fabric softener fastened to a hat, pack, or packstrap seems to help.  The 
insects still come around, but they seem to make one circuit about my head 
and then leave.  They are of course replaced by other insects.   The stay of 
each wave of insects is sufficiently brief, however, they leave without 
landing, stinging, or taking a bite.  There is always Avon Skin-So-Soft.  
Whether fabric or skin softener, you walk through a cloud of goo.

The military has an insect repellant which is more effective than DEET yet 
reportedly less averse to human usage.  Some manufacturer, possibly 3-M, is 
marketing it, or something very much like it, to the public.  I have 
forgotten the product name and the company marketing it.

Steve

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