A little study.

Might as well use what has been proven to work. Urban myths don't provide a lot of protection.

Perception is not reality.

Anyone that lives in Alaska can tell you Avon SSS is worthless for Mosquitos. I did anecdotally feel it slowed Tsetse for an hour or so

SSS stinks so bad I don't like it for tsetses as good as it is rumored to be. I've only used it once and it seemed to work.

I do this for tsetses; wear a thicker clothing. Yes it's hot and the thin Tag safari pants and shirts are cool. Tsetses bite right through them. Wear something a bit thicker and you won't get bit. Deal with the heat.

And, treat with Permethrin.

I don't know about mosquitoes and other bugs, but Avon SSS with picaridin (specifically picaridin, among the stuff's various versions) does make a significant difference for tsetse flies. I use it regularly, and have seen it used countless times by others. Although it does not prevent all bites, especially when you are in a "tsetse cloud", the number of flies actually landing and biting decreases dramatically upon application. You can see the flies zooming in, lining up for final, and abruptly aborting the landing.

Empirical tests show a marked decrease in general self-slapping when we put the stuff on. These efficiency tests are corroborated by the observation that the jumpy-dancy-slappy routine of those on the truck who are left out of the ASSS distribution continues unabated.

We have some stuff called MOSSIE DOS here, which works very well for mosquitoes.

We found that if we mix it with DEET and 50 SPF sun protection it works very well for tse tse flies.

As well as anything we have tried before.

I mix it here myself, using about 50% DEET.

In my experience 50% or > DEET works pretty good on tsetse flies too.

I gave up arguing with SSS zealots long ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Philip A.:
I don't know about mosquitoes and other bugs, but Avon SSS with picaridin (specifically picaridin, among the stuff's various versions) does make a significant difference for tsetse flies. I use it regularly, and have seen it used countless times by others. Although it does not prevent all bites, especially when you are in a "tsetse cloud", the number of flies actually landing and biting decreases dramatically upon application. You can see the flies zooming in, lining up for final, and abruptly aborting the landing.

Empirical tests show a marked decrease in general self-slapping when we put the stuff on. These efficiency tests are corroborated by the observation that the jumpy-dancy-slappy routine of those on the truck who are left out of the ASSS distribution continues unabated.

That has been my experience.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:

quote:

Originally posted by Philip A.:
I don't know about mosquitoes and other bugs, but Avon SSS with picaridin (specifically picaridin, among the stuff's various versions) does make a significant difference for tsetse flies.

That has been my experience.

Since it works well for mosquitos, it's most likely that the picardin is what is effective, not the SSS.

from the linked article

Actually, Strickman gives the edge to picardin.

"Picaridin is a little more effective than DEET and seems to keep mosquitoes at a greater distance," he says. When people use DEET, mosquitoes may land on them but not bite. When they use a product containing picaridin, mosquitoes are less likely to even land. Repellents with IR 3535 are slightly less effective, Strickman says, but they don't have the strong smell of other products."

quote:

Originally posted by Duckear:
I gave up arguing with SSS zealots long ago.

Yeah me too!

Just saw this neat little study and thought I would stir the pot a little.

Agreed. Arguing with ASSS zealots is like arguing with PETA.

I always wonder why these tests never seem to include the 3M Ultrathon deet insect repellent. This is the stuff that was developed for the U.S. military and tested in jungles and swamps all over the world. I have used it for 15 years. A M.D. hunting partner and I felt it decreased the tetse activity as well as the mosquitoes and ticks when we tested it in Mozambique. Perhaps because it always ranks in the top 2 or 3 in scientific testing?

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

Originally posted by Duckear:
I gave up arguing with SSS zealots long ago.

Yeah me too!

Just saw this neat little study and thought I would stir the pot a little.

No expert but after 17 trips to AFRICA and seeing clouds of T-flies in Zambia, maybe one or two bites. I would never leave home without it. I have well known PH's ask me to bring it for them when I come. Just maybe it works better for some with certain body chemistry

All one has to do is have Ray Atkinson next to him.

I think he had about a 100 flies on him while I had one or two

Same with Canuck!

My wife says it is because of all the Tabasco I eat!

I really wish someone would win this argument so I know which to take for my upcoming hunt in Zambia

Now I feel compelled to take both and form my own opinion...

I have had pretty good luck with the skin so soft products containing picardin. Get the spray bottle stuff, and the sunscreen and bug dope are together. I would agree that the SSS products without picardin are basically perfume laden sunscreen.

If I forgot to put it on when I was in Cameroon just this month, I knew within a few minutes that I had forgotten it.

I will say that this is yet another questionable study, given that the data they give you is rather contradicted by what the researchers were saying in their written comments.

It is m experience that everyone is a bit different in their responses to bugs. It is my experience that most of the research is aimed at mosquitos, and rightfully so as they are the bigger disease vector, and DEET works better than most at this.

As I recall, there was some data that anything over 25-50% DEET was no more effective, and there was some concern for toxicity with topical use, especially in children at the higher concentrations.

"OFF" bought Africa is usually picardin based. I have used it when I forgot to put my 50% DEET spray in the cruiser...it does work OK...just not as good a %50 DEET...at least for me.

SSS without picardin...useless.

Lionhunter's stuff above is the best for all pest control as the permethrin helps with ticks.

2nd best 50% DEET.

For tsetses, I have yet to see anything that works as well as a smoldering piece of elephant poop.

quote:

Originally posted by LionHunter:
Agreed. Arguing with ASSS zealots is like arguing with PETA.

I always wonder why these tests never seem to include the 3M Ultrathon deet insect repellent. This is the stuff that was developed for the U.S. military and tested in jungles and swamps all over the world. I have used it for 15 years. A M.D. hunting partner and I felt it decreased the tetse activity as well as the mosquitoes and ticks when we tested it in Mozambique. Perhaps because it always ranks in the top 2 or 3 in scientific testing?

I have a good .mil study somewhere on that.

Good stuff.

Secret for the Ultrathon is the carrier base the DEET is in. Keeps it around for 12 hr IIRC.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
All one has to do is have Ray Atkinson next to him.

I think he had about a 100 flies on him while I had one or two

Same with Canuck!

My wife says it is because of all the Tabasco I eat!

in Canada they said bring a frenchman with you and you do not to worry about bugs ...