Question:
Has anybody tried the "electronic insect repellent" advertised in
the "Hand in Hand" catalog? I generally have been pleased with
anything I've ordered from this catalog and would like to try this
out unless it already has a known bad track record. The gadget
looks like a ladybug in the picture, and the descriptive text says:
"Chemical-free, easy to use, just as effective as the best lotions and
sprays...Emits a safe, barely audible sonic pulse that keeps
mosquitoes away within a 20- to 30-foot radius. Clip to stroller
or playyard." (U.S. $12.95).
We're not even in mosquito season yet and my yard is completely
overrun with them when it gets shady or is cloudy, so much so that I
don't let my kids play in the yard unless it's sunny. So this
contraption sounds ideal if it works. Any recommendations? If
nobody has tried this, I'll try it out and report back; but if you
know it doesn't work, please help me save my hard-earned dollars.
Answer:
I've seen similar gadgets advertised in the back of magazines alongside
those X-ray glasses, syringe-type blackhead removers, miracle odor-eater
shoe inserts, and 1000 return-address-labels (i.e. junk). If there really
were a sound that could repel mosquitoes, especially to a radius of 20
feet, there would be no market for the lotions and sprays. But there isn't
such a sound.
The military has dumped tons of money over the years into finding an
effective insect repellent. So far only DEET has been shown to be
effective. All types of sounds have already been tried. Sounds were a
good idea to start with: it seems reasonable that the sound of a dragonfly
might frighten the little buggers, but no.
DEET works by plugging up the little bastard's antennas. They have two
main types: carbon-dioxide-sensing and relative-humidity-sensing. They
also have heat-sensors. They approach from down-wind, and track you via
your breath (high CO2 and humidity), and depend on their heat sensors to
pick landing places. With DEET, they'll approach and almost land, but when
they come too close to the surface, their antennas get plugged by the DEET
fumes, and they stop getting the signal, so they back off in a confused
state. They hang around just a few feet away, and make several attempts to
land, but when they get too close, they stop getting the signal and they
back off again. DEET keeps mosquitoes about 3 feet away. To chose the
best lotion or spray, chose the one highest in DEET content, and with the
most convenient and/or pleasant base. OFF now makes a pump-spray bottle
containing 100% DEET.
