How to cope with bugs (ticks, scorpions, snakes, mosquitos) when sleeping?

[bikemaniac]

Hi,

To those of you who sleep with tarps or very simple bivys: What do you do against bugs such as ticks, scorpions, snakes, mosquitos?

Lucas

[jehsohn]

Spoon!

[Racingguy04]

It depends on where you are and what time of year. Ticks, scorpions and snakes have never been a problem for me. just check your shoes in the morning for scorpions, snakes generally stay away, and usually you'll feel ticks crawling on you.

Mosquitoes are a problem. I usually will take a light tent or bug bivy if I think they're going to be a problem. Sometimes they are a problem and all I have is a tarp so hopefully it's cool enough or windy enough to get rid of them, otherwise a nice spray of bug spray helps me get to sleep

[JRA]

+1 on time and location.

And mosquitoes are the biggest problem as far as I'm concerned.  I generally opt for my UL tent just to make sure I'm not up all night swatting at mosquitoes. 

[bikemaniac]

usually you'll feel ticks crawling on you.

I don't know what you consider being a tick.  These: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick you cannot feel at all (unless you have a hyper sensitive skin). If you are sleeping in a bad spot you can easily get 5-10 attachments during a night. And if they attached to your back you will never be able to remove it unless you have a friend. In the vast part of Europe ticks are a big problem with large chances of lyme disease if not removed in time.

[Area54]

Ticks - vigilance, Bushmans (australian brandname DEET spray) around entry points on skin, regular self check.
Mozzies - Bushmans on clothes and exposed skin
Sandflies - cover up, bushmans
Snakes - luck
spiders - check locations before you setup (ie trapdoor spider, nests underground), shake boots/helmet/whatever out in the morning
Fireants - check setup location
Leeches - self check - bit of salt sorts them out.

All these and more here in Australia. And drop bears too

Ticks here may carry lyme disease, mozzies can carry Ross River Fever - moreso up north though. Not uncommon to pick up ticks along the way on the trail, and discover them during self check that night.

[Racingguy04]

I don't know what you consider being a tick.  These: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick you cannot feel at all (unless you have a hyper sensitive skin). If you are sleeping in a bad spot you can easily get 5-10 attachments during a night. And if they attached to your back you will never be able to remove it unless you have a friend. In the vast part of Europe ticks are a big problem with large chances of lyme disease if not removed in time.

I spent 10 summers in norther wisconsin with tons of ticks, we had deer ticks and wood ticks and I almost always felt them crawling on me. Usually they'd get on your arms or legs low, and crawl up towards a warm dark place before biting. Wearing long pants and sleeves helped, but in early summer, sometimes I'd pull off 20 ticks a day (I quit counting after the first summer). Wood ticks (which carry Ehrlichiosis) are much bigger than deer ticks (which carry lymes disease) but even deer ticks are pretty findable. I never got lymes or ehrlichiosis but if you're on a long trip and worried about it, doxycycline is cheap and fairly easy to get.

[roadpacker]

I've had lyme twice now-- be sure in addition to your regular check you massage your scalp. Often overlooked but a good hiding place. Also be sure to check your groin-- often on bike trips I never really fully strip, but they like it there, so have a good look before you go to bed or something.

[ROADHOG]

Nearby insect life looking for fresh meat will locate your space then crawl toward you.  On a warm night on a productive turf local insects will have you surrounded in 2-3 hours.

Spraying DEET is repellant but permithrin is suggested. I haven’t tried the chemical but have a container in stock from Wal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin

http://sawyer.com/technology/permethrin/

EPA has an advice page for permethrin

[roadpacker]

Permethrin goes on clothes, and is a neurotoxin, DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) goes on the remainder of exposed skin; Permethrin is a pesticide, DEET is a chemical that interferes with something in the bug's system, preventing them or deterring them from landing. Both are found in your bloodstream as soon as you put it on; use Permethrin on your clothes, wear long clothes to minimize your DEET need on your skin. Both of these were invented by the Army in the 40's. For those considering getting 100% DEET, remember that both the US and the Australian armies use 35%. If it's enough for them, it's enough for you. 100% isn't more effective, it's just adding toxicity to your bloodstream.

[ROADHOG]

The Yankees/Cleveland game: sound judgment is often absent.

Like toothpaste, a small amount of DEET or Perm goes a long way to ward of clouds f biting insects...as does a tent. Getting into the tent with a pee jug BEFORE SUNSET is mandatory in bug country.

Yet some enjoy wandering around naked there after dark spraying 'area bombs,' DEET, burning green wood.. GACK !

If you wear a headnet, cover pants with socks as baseball players  before better living thru chemistry era, then spray a wee bit on the ground or a shot on a bandana then tied around a leg.

This dosage should prevent an overwhelming attack.

Remember, mosquito go to roost after 1AM. If you have to change the clutch outback, after 1 !

If not try spraying a ground perimeter 10-15 feet from the work area.

Should one not use chemicals ? Just to be the advocate, filling the car with gas may vastly overshadow brief and correct insecticide use age...or not. Or an evening with a de riguer wood fire.

[bikemaniac]

Remember, mosquito go to roost after 1AM.

Very informative - thanks a lot.

[ROADHOG]

Don't forget a pair of light gloves...the standard brown ones

[AlasdairMc]

Luckily, being UK based, our weather is rubbish enough to require a sleeping bag all year round.

We get ticks and midges mainly, and I've found the best prevention is to put on a headnet then close your bag around that so you've built a barrier. It has been said that if London or New York got midges as bad as Scotland does, there would be no such thing as midges...

[Yagi]

I don't think anybody mentioned it(and correct me if I'm wrong), but the percentage of DEET in a substance is only proportionate to how long it is effective.  DEET is DEET.  A lower percentage of DEET just means you have less time to get things done outside your shelter before it wears off and you become a feast.  When I'm not on the bike outrunning the skeeters, I try to use repellant with a lower level of DEET and minimize the amount I spend outside of the bug screen.

[ROADHOG]

   Casually choosing Deet at Walmart was 100% costs $4....75% costs $2.75..or so I casually bought. I'm often at south Florida.

Did I investigate ? NO ! I accepted the advertising as Green Berets choose 100%, girl scouts use 50%  ??

and the answer is ?