Frequency repellents don't keep mosquitoes away.
For people who don't like to use chemicals to repel mosquitoes, frequency repellents seem to provide a good solution. These electronic devices supposedly produce sounds at a certain frequency that cause mosquitoes to stay away. Does this Spark an idea?
Claims
According to Rutgers Center for Vector Biology, mosquito frequency repellent manufacturers claim that mosquitoes avoid sounds of a certain frequency, so that the frequency repellent devices provide protection against mosquito bites in the area. These manufacturers also say that the repellents keep away not only mosquitoes, but also spiders, hornets and rats.
Frequency
According to Rutgers Center for Vector Biology, frequency repellent manufacturers say that the device imitates the frequency of male mosquito wing beats, so that fertilized female mosquitoes, which are the ones out for a blood meal, avoid the area. Other manufacturers say that it mimics the sounds of a hungry dragonfly so that mosquitoes stay away to avoid being eaten.
Efficacy
Studies show that these devices don't deter mosquitoes, according to Rutgers Center for Vector Biology. In fact, most claims have questionable scientific value. Fertilized female mosquitoes don't avoid male mosquitoes and mosquitoes generally don't avoid areas where dragonflies hunt.
Tags: Center Vector, Center Vector Biology, frequency repellent, Rutgers Center, Rutgers Center Vector, Vector Biology