Found something for midges

[here to stay]

Tessie has developed allergies in her old age.  One of the worst is to the tiny midges here.  Ugh, ugly creatures whose mouth parts are little saw blades they use to chew the skin then drink up the pooled blood.  I was spraying fly spray but had to do it three times a day for it to work.

My seach for something better had the misstep that lead to her getting mastitis but I think I found something that works.  Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard with Picardin.  A light  spray works all day even two.  Pricey but the only thing that works so far.  There are no horse products with Picardin so I asked the vet if it was ok.  He didn't know so it's an experiment.

Keep your fingers crossed.

[dustawaits]

Why just plain skin so soft? I did not know they made it with bug spray!

[aoconnor]

I will have to try that. I have a few horses with allergies tot eh little no-see-ums that gather on their manes and tail heads and top line. I worm a lot to help them, and fly spray like crazy. Nothing helps much, so I will try the Skin So Soft Bug Guard. Thanks for the info!

[mzgarden]

I never heard of Picardin, but found this in case it helps.
Picaridin

[Maura]

You might try making your own spray with plain water and a little lavender.

[here to stay]

Jan 29, 2018 3:16:00 GMT aoconnor said:

I will have to try that. I have a few horses with allergies tot eh little no-see-ums that gather on their manes and tail heads and top line. I worm a lot to help them, and fly spray like crazy. Nothing helps much, so I will try the Skin So Soft Bug Guard. Thanks for the info!

It's the Avon product in the silver bottle.  There's a similar product in a green bottle but it doesn't have the Picardin in it.  It works too but needs frequent reapplications.

[here to stay]

So I have been spraying the repellent every morning on her belly. And the belly crusties are gone.

Yesterday I came out to find open rub sores on her face. Argh... so now I need to do her face too.

[gracielagata]

SSS is the go to bug preventer in the south!
I knew of SSS growing up in the south for bugs, but then when I got a horse, I learned that the SS and a few other things make teh best horse fly spray.

Here is the recipe I was given, if anyone wants it:

Fly Spray
(Amounts are to make 1 gallon)
2 oz 10% Permethrin/Pyrethrin
1 bottle Skin So Soft (16oz or larger) (I cheat sometimes and just use baby oil)
White Vinegar
Water
Directions
1) Put 2 oz Permethrin in gallon size bottle ( 1 gallon vinegar bottle is perfect!).
2) Add full bottle of SSS.
3) Fill gallon bottle to halfway with white vinegar.
4) Finish up gallon bottle with water.
*** You may want to leave a bit of airspace at the top to be able to shake.
**** Shake before every use, and shake before pouring into spray bottle.
**** It still works if it freezes, but try to keep it from freezing.

Just don't spray it on near water sources (lakes, etc. Troughs, unless you have fish, probably don't count). And permethrin isn't good for cats, i don't think. So don't spray it on them either.

[LauraD]

SSS works for some people, but not for others. My mom tried it once as a mosquito repellent; for her it proved to be a mosquito attractant! Probably differences in body chemistry determine whether it will work, just like the same perfume will smell differently when used by two different people.

[here to stay]

gracielagata, do you see any difference between the Skin So Soft and the baby oil?

[gracielagata]

here to stay,

Honestly, I don't feel like there is a big difference in this formula, because of the permethrin. To me, the oil is just a carrier at that point.

But maybe I am wrong. I only make a gallon bottle of it every year or so, as it lasts a while, and evidently I don't use much anyway (? lol).

I also add some rose geranium, tea tree oil, and citronella essential oils to help ward off insects even better.

The essential oils also seems to help it work better and longer, and lets me use less of it.