Bug Off! Send Irritating Insects Packing With This Gear

Bug bites are no fun. They can itch or hurt, and some can make you sick.

Bug spray can help, but you have to reapply it often, especially if you’re sweating or doing an activity where it might wash off. Another effective way to keep biting bugs away is with insect-repellent clothing.

Most anti-bug clothing is infused with permethrin, a synthetic version of a natural repellent found in chrysanthemum plants. It has been EPA-registered since 1979 and is approved for use by the whole family, with no restriction.

Permethrin works by disrupting bugs’ nervous systems, causing them to leave before biting you.

Wear a permethrin-treated buff, hat or shirt, and many bugs should buzz off. It’s always best to also wear bug spray on any exposed skin.

However, permethrin should be applied only to clothing. Never apply it to your skin. Instead, use a spray containing DEET or picaridin. DEET sprays should register at a 20%-30% concentration and picaridin at a 20% concentration.

Wearing permethrin-treated clothing along with a DEET or picaridin spray for your skin should give you near-complete prevention.

WEARABLE INSECT-REPELLENT GEAR

Sawyer offers a permethrin-based Premium Insect Repellent (scoutshop.org, $16.99 for a 12-ounce bottle at the Scout Shop) that you can use at home to treat your shoes, backpacks, tents and clothing. When applied properly, it can be effective against mosquitoes and ticks for six weeks or six washes.

Royal Robbins is launching a collection of shirts and pants this spring that features Mosquito Protection Technology, a tightly woven fabric that helps to prevent mosquito bites. This innovative, chemical-free solution offers a long-lasting alternative to permethrin-treated materials.

Insect Shield is a brand that works with companies like Lee jeans and Columbia sportswear to pretreat clothing in the factory. When a company applies the insect repellent as part of the manufacturing process, it lasts for up to 70 washes. But that’s not the only way to insect-proof your clothes.

Insect Shield will treat clothing you already own. Order a mailer from them, and for a flat rate of $120, they’ll treat everything you send them in a bag. They also sell Insect Shield Permethrin Spray (insectshield.com, $9.95 for a 6-ounce can) to repel mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, flies, chiggers and spiders.

KEEP TICKS OFF

Investing in insect-repelling socks or treating your socks with permethrin is a good way to protect yourself from ticks, some of which can carry Lyme disease.

Have an adult apply permethrin to your clothing (but not while you’re wearing it) in an open, well-ventilated area away from water sources and pets, as directed by the manufacturer. The clothing must completely dry before you touch it.