Potential Problems using "Scent Killer" Spray over Clothes treated with Permethrin

[Chaos USMC]

Potential Problems using "Scent Killer" Spray over Clothes treated with Permethrin

While out hunting the other day, I got thinking about my routine of treating my hunting clothes with Permethrin (Sawyers) for tick control, and any effect that a 都ent killer has on the effectiveness of the Permethrin. Not knowing the details for how either product actually worked, I decided to first contact the folks from Wildlife Research Center, makers of the 鉄cent Killer I use. I poised the question above to them and simply concluded the email with 電oes 鉄cent Killer impact the effectiveness of Permethrin?

After a bit, no response from Wildlife Research Center Wrote them another inquiry, no response?

No longer confident I would hear back from Wildlife Research Center I then transmitted the same inquiry to Sawyers. They immediately responded Their engineers said that the "scent killer" will have a significant impact on the effectiveness of their tick and bug repellent. Depending on how much scent killer you apply, one could completely eliminate any effectiveness of the Permethrin. They went on to say that Sawyers Permethrin works on a 都mell process. Ticks, or other critters smell the Permethrin and are either killed or repelled. I always thought it was contact with the Permethrin that was their demise. They also said the tick is a unique critter in that it only takes a 澱reath every 10-15 minutes, so it may take a few minutes to do its job.

For me, protection from ticks in south central PA. is priority over scent control. I don稚 mean to say that scent control is out the window but, I will employ 登ther methods of maintaining scent control now. I will not routinely be using the commercial scent control products like I used to. As far as using Sawyers Permethrin spray, I don't go into the woods without it on my clothes and I have seen its effectiveness on numerous occasions.

OBTW, call me crazy but I have a sneaky/cynical idea now for why I never heard back from Wildlife Research Center. Perhaps a little extreme but just like the cancer warning on cigarettes, perhaps a warning on "scent killer products" saying "May reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of Permethrin or other tick and bug repellents". Tick borne diseases are a serious problem in PA, so....

Having siad that, Sawyers engineers did say you could do a preseason no scent detergent washing first, let it dry, and then spray the Permethrin on.

Thought that you folks dealing with ticks on a normal basis while hunting might be interested,

Good luck.

 

[oosik]

Re: Potential Problems using "Scent Killer" Spray over Clothes treated with Permethri

I've got summer time Wood Ticks here. Further north they have Deer Ticks. It's never been a really big problem and I've never used any type of repellent. I put Front Line Plus on my Cocker Spaniel. During the summer I pick up/vacuum many ticks around the house. Little dead crispy critters. He spends a lot of time out in the field grass & Buck brush.

When I first was in AK we used military grade Deet. 95% active ingredients. There are no ticks in AK. The mosquitos make up for that. We would put this Deet on our clothing. It was too strong to put directly on your skin. It burned like wildfire directly on your skin. Deet and a cheap, filthy cigar and you were in pretty good shape.

 

[JamesHW]

Re: Potential Problems using "Scent Killer" Spray over Clothes treated with Permethri

My understanding is ticks are attracted to co2 expelled by the victim. We致e had luck with the RYNOSKIN long underwear worn w/ socks that covers all but hands and head. Have also seen gators that have permethrin in the fibers along with neck and wrist bands. Apparently permethrin treated fabric cause ticks to get a 塗ot foot and fall off and while in lab tests doesn稚 kill the ticks, but causes them to lose any desire to climb for a day or two. Other tests have shown just treating shoes and socks can reduce tick exposure by something like 75% and is especially effective against the tiny nymphs who climb up from the leaf litter. When we return from the woods we do a tick check and clothes go straight into to wash.

I suspect the issue w/ scent killer is that it dilutes the permethrin causing it to become less effective, but it seems being careful not to spray permethrin treated areas may allow them to remain effective.

 

[Stan B]

Re: Potential Problems using "Scent Killer" Spray over Clothes treated with Permethri

I've done some considerable reading on deltamethrin, another pyrethroid insecticide, to deal with seasonal Asian Lady Beetle infestations, so I'm pretty fresh on this topic.

They immediately responded Their engineers said that the "scent killer" will have a significant impact on the effectiveness of their tick and bug repellent. Depending on how much scent killer you apply, one could completely eliminate any effectiveness of the Permethrin. They went on to say that Sawyers Permethrin works on a 都mell process. Ticks, or other critters smell the Permethrin and are either killed or repelled. I always thought it was contact with the Permethrin that was their demise.

You are correct in that they basically have to walk through it (or eat it which is less likely). See: Permethrin General Fact Sheet It certainly does not work on "smell". I suppose there could be an ingredient in their scent product that destroys the chemical composition of the permethrin. I spray deltamethrin on strategic areas on the outside of my house and soon after the lady beetle's walk through it, they're done. Even months later on the shaded side of the house (direct sunlight breaks it down over time).