2025: Year of the Tick

[dmccarty]

Seems like a "normal" year so far. The dog picks up quite a few ticks all year round and he ran into a nest of seed ticks yesterday.....

Was out earlier this week repairing the driveway from the 10-12 inches of rain we had last weekend. The mosquitoes were vicious.

A couple of weeks ago I cut some weed with a weed whip. Maybe a minute worth of work. A thin bladed leaf landed on my thumb which eventually got blisters and turned red. I think I managed to rub whatever "oil" was on the leaf on my side, which has now got a nasty, sorta itchy rash. It almost looks like a burn. The plant was not poison ivy or oak. I have plenty of this weed growing here and there, been cutting it for years without a problem. Course, usually, I have on gloves....

 

[ponytug]

Seems like a "normal" year so far. The dog picks up quite a few ticks all year round and he ran into a nest of seed ticks yesterday.....

Was out earlier this week repairing the driveway from the 10-12 inches of rain we had last weekend. The mosquitoes were vicious.

A couple of weeks ago I cut some weed with a weed whip. Maybe a minute worth of work. A thin bladed leaf landed on my thumb which eventually got blisters and turned red. I think I managed to rub whatever "oil" was on the leaf on my side, which has now got a nasty, sorta itchy rash. It almost looks like a burn. The plant was not poison ivy or oak. I have plenty of this weed growing here and there, been cutting it for years without a problem. Course, usually, I have on gloves....

I'm sorry, but I don't know where "Triangle of North Carolina" is.

Poison sumac or hogweed would be my guess. Hogweed was introduced by a homeowner (!!) to Watauga county, but it is spread by birds, and is known to be in Virginia as well.

Plant Industry - Giant Hogweed | NC Agriculture

Hogweed is nasty stuff.

All the best, Peter

 

[John_Mc]

Permethrin is definitely the best thing I've found. I spray my work pants with a 12% solution. I've read that that mix will prevent ticks from being attracted, and is supposed to be good for 75 washings. I have my doubts about that so I spray them at least every other use.

The permethrin you spray on your clothes only lasts through about 4 or 5 washes. It's the factory treated stuff that lasts through about 70 washes.

Also, when spraying on your clothing, You want to use a 0.5% spray specifically designated for spraying on clothing. A 12% concentration is not appropriate for this use.

 

[ArlyA]

The permethrin you spray on your clothes only lasts through about 4 or 5 washes. It's the factory treated stuff that lasts through about 70 washes.

Also, when spraying on your clothing, You want to use a 0.5% spray specifically designated for spraying on clothing. A 12% concentration is not appropriate for this use.

I can't find the difference with sawyer brand clothing treatment and clothing that comes treated that way???
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How long does permethrin treatment last on clothing?

6 weeks

The naturally occurring version breaks down rather quickly in sunlight but Sawyer's pharmaceutical grade, synthetic Permethrin can last 6 weeks or 6 washings on clothing and other fabrics, making it a fantastic odorless barrier of protection from mosquitoes and ticks.

 

[John_Mc]

I can't find the difference with sawyer brand clothing treatment and clothing that comes treated that way???
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How long does permethrin treatment last on clothing?

6 weeks

The naturally occurring version breaks down rather quickly in sunlight but Sawyer's pharmaceutical grade, synthetic Permethrin can last 6 weeks or 6 washings on clothing and other fabrics, making it a fantastic odorless barrier of protection from mosquitoes and ticks.

Sawyers is typical of the permethrin sprays sold for treating clothing. Some say six weeks or six washes, some say “up to 5 or six washes”. If buying spray, make sure to get something made for treating clothing. Some sprays are oil-based and don’t work well for that.

For the factory treated stuff, check out Insect Shield. They have the patent on the process which binds the treatment to the fabric. (I believe they license the process to some other companies as well). They claim it lasts up to 70 washes. I’ve been using their products for more than 10 years. I’m still using some of the first T-shirts I bought from them 10 years ago. (I’m about to retire those. They still seem effective, but are getting really ratty, since they’ve been worn so much - much of it working in the woods or yard.) They run sales regularly, so unless you are in a rush, it’s pretty easy to get 15 or 20% off on most products.

The only Insect Shield products I’ve not been happy with are their socks. I tried three different pairs 6 or 7 years ago - all three got holes in them after the 2nd or third wash. (It’s been a while since I tried them. Maybe they have improved.)

I order my socks from “Farm To Feet”. Note that only their socks designated “No Fly Zone” have the permethrin treatment. (The link should take you right to that treated sock.) These have held up very well for me.

 

[shooterdon]

Another Insect Shield user and pleased with their product. My socks have lasted 3 years.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Seems like a "normal" year so far. The dog picks up quite a few ticks all year round and he ran into a nest of seed ticks yesterday.....

Was out earlier this week repairing the driveway from the 10-12 inches of rain we had last weekend. The mosquitoes were vicious.

A couple of weeks ago I cut some weed with a weed whip. Maybe a minute worth of work. A thin bladed leaf landed on my thumb which eventually got blisters and turned red. I think I managed to rub whatever "oil" was on the leaf on my side, which has now got a nasty, sorta itchy rash. It almost looks like a burn. The plant was not poison ivy or oak. I have plenty of this weed growing here and there, been cutting it for years without a problem. Course, usually, I have on gloves....

Might a been virginia creeper. My wife breaks out when she touches that. As someone already mentioned sumac. I don't think its hogweed that stuff sounds bad... We are out of the range of it luckily.

I have brushed up against something while mowing and got a rash from it. Never identified it as I wasn't too sure where I was when it got me. I thought it may be some wisteria but they don;t claim it causes any issues when touched.

 

[grsthegreat]

Another Insect Shield user and pleased with their product. My socks have lasted 3 years.

You only wash your socks once every 3 years?


Just joking

 

[John_Mc]

Another Insect Shield user and pleased with their product. My socks have lasted 3 years.

Good. Perhaps they've addressed the quality issues I had with mine. I have not tried them again since I had those problems years ago. Everything else I've ordered form them has held up well.

 

[kenmbz]

Found another tick on me last night