Kilts and flying & biting insects

**Pleater** · 27th July 08, 10:29 AM

We have horseflies.

I have jungle formula extra strength insect repellent, 50 percent DEET, and I also carry a wasp repellent in areas where there are rubbish bins or fruits are growing.

Down on the sea front here small children are often stung by wasps - the local first aid post gets dozens in a day during the high season.

Although my chemicals are not sure protection they certainly help.

Anne the Pleater

**Kilted_John** · 27th July 08, 08:45 PM

With respect to bloodsucking skeeters, I find that none are interested in flying up the kilt. They do tend to bite my lower legs, like they do when I'm shorted, but they don't fly up the kilt.

-J

**wesd** · 27th July 08, 10:05 PM

GOOD DAY ALL

At the local Highland Games last month, in Kansas City I learned one of few,
repeat few draw backs with the kilt. Various insect bits in places that a guy in pants will not know about.

THANKS Wes

**Carolina Kiltman** · 28th July 08, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by wesd

GOOD DAY ALL

At the local Highland Games last month, in Kansas City I learned one of few,
repeat few draw backs with the kilt. Various insect bits in places that a guy in pants will not know about.

THANKS Wes

I won't go into details, but I got a nasty spider bite there,

and I was wearing trousers. (The US Navy doesn't recognize the kilt as part of the uniform)

**DotDLL** · 28th July 08, 08:34 PM

If I know I'm gonna be in a buggy environment while kilted, I just make sure my legs have been adequately sprayed. So far, no problems with bites in sensitive areas, although I tend to be more of an indoorsman.

**Jack Of All** · 13th August 08, 11:33 PM

I just got back from a week in the Boundary Waters as well. The main pest of prominence this time of year is the mosquito.

I brought along a light weight modern camo kilt (GrodyGoose) in place of shorts and wore it most of the time. My findings were that mosquitoes are not interested in going up under the kilt so much, too much swishing about of fabric to safely do their business I suspect. When sitting still, the pleats and the overlap of the apron provide multiple layers of fabric and thereby protection. In fact my fiancée (proposed to during the trip!, but that's another story) got a nasty bite through her jersey-cotton pants rather close to sensitive areas. Overall, I think a kilt is better attire in mosquito situations than shorts by far.

Another repellent not yet mentioned (I'm shocked!) is several pulls on your hard liquor of choice.

int: Having had a good buzz on during the witching hour, dusk, I observed that the mosquitoes would buzz about my head but dared not land. This method worked two out of the three nights it was attempted. We still had fun that third night.

We ran out of camera battery and left the spare in the car so this is the best picture I have of me camping kilted. My Betrothed is an artist:

**Cat** · 14th August 08, 02:41 AM

I actually almost learned this the hard way today. I go fishing several times a week, since there's a lake right behind my apartment. I decided to try going kilted, as I've always worn jeans when fishing. Overall, it was okay, although a wasp decided to land on my shin and start crawling up my leg. I shook my leg and luckily he just flew away, but he wasn't too far from "the promised land" if you know what I mean.

I also began thinking of the potential dangers of errant hooks flying through the air on bad casts and the potential serious injury (hey, I've been hooked in the head and leg before and that was no fun!)

I think fishing is probably about the only thing I'll wear jeans for, just to hedge my bets a little bit.

BTW, many surplus stores (in the States at least) carry military-issue insect repellent. It's 31.5% DEET, and works really well. Just wash your hands after applying, and I wouldn't use it on kids, since high-concentration bug repellent can make them really sick. It usually comes in a small dark green bottle with black printing.

**Tetley** · 14th August 08, 04:10 AM

Originally Posted by pdcorlis

Two words... no pest strip?

Um... that's three words

**graham_s** · 14th August 08, 05:09 AM

The Highland midge looks on insect repellent as a sort of salad dressing.
DEET does nothing to repel them

**Carolina Kiltman** · 14th August 08, 05:31 AM

One quick comment on ticks and chiggers crawling up the legs. I have a Granddaughter who is a professional camp councilor and she uses pet insect collars like ankle bracelets. Seems to do the job. Just get the ones listed as good for ticks and chiggers. Worth a try, maybe?