Insect repellent jacket: status, value and potential

Lightweight net jackets were treated with deet at rates of 0.125, 0.25 or 0.5 g/g netting. Field studies in North Carolina indicated that the 0.25-g treatment level would provide protection from mosquitoes for 6 weeks. The same jackets provided protection against Culicoides furens (Poey) for over 7 weeks. Studies with Chrysops spp. proved more variable; one jacket provided 91% protection after 2 weeks at the 0.5-g treatment level, but another failed.Through the work of several investigators, a relatively complete picture of the effectiveness of the insect repellent jacket now exists. It has been tested in a variety of countries and climates. On the basis of the data now available, the authors conclude that the deet-treated jacket will provide protection against a variety of blood-feeding Diptera for at least 6 weeks.