New High-Tech Mosquito Repellent: Miracle or Marketing Ploy?
By: Nora Hartfeil
Updated: August 16, 2012
There's no doubt about it, mosquitoes are obnoxious.
From those itchy bites, to the concern over the recent spread of the West Nile Virus. And with all the claims to keep the pests away, it's
hard to figure out what works best.
Nevertheless, local grocery stores tell us they have noticed a bump in repellent sales. Glenna Huggins says she is stocked up on product, but concerned about getting bit.
"I've heard a lot of people in Abilene have [gotten bit], and it's very dangerous. And if I use any I use the one with deet", says Huggins, Abilene resident.
From sprays, to candles, and most recently? An app for your smartphone that claims to prevent mosquito bites. Many folks are desperate to prevent getting bit. Dr. Xu is a biologist and has studied mosquitoes and their habits immensely.
"There is a researched-based study talking about a range of ultrasounds that can intervene their mating behavior", says Dr. Xu.
And as far as that new app? "The sound is a very sensitive region to the human ear, so we can probably not use that method to prevent a mosquito biting, because if we set up this kind of device around peoples' house, it will probably drive people crazy before it will intervene the mosquito mating behavior", Dr. Xu tells us.
It seems as though until further research, Dr. Xu won't be relying on his app to keep himself bite-free. Instead, he recommends preventing the problem with removing still-standing water around the home, using insecticides and spraying on the deet.
There are smartphone repellent apps that range from free to around four dollars that offer the ultrasonic waves.
Nevertheless, local grocery stores tell us they have noticed a bump in repellent sales. Glenna Huggins says she is stocked up on product, but concerned about getting bit.
"I've heard a lot of people in Abilene have [gotten bit], and it's very dangerous. And if I use any I use the one with deet", says Huggins, Abilene resident.
From sprays, to candles, and most recently? An app for your smartphone that claims to prevent mosquito bites. Many folks are desperate to prevent getting bit. Dr. Xu is a biologist and has studied mosquitoes and their habits immensely.
"There is a researched-based study talking about a range of ultrasounds that can intervene their mating behavior", says Dr. Xu.
And as far as that new app? "The sound is a very sensitive region to the human ear, so we can probably not use that method to prevent a mosquito biting, because if we set up this kind of device around peoples' house, it will probably drive people crazy before it will intervene the mosquito mating behavior", Dr. Xu tells us.
It seems as though until further research, Dr. Xu won't be relying on his app to keep himself bite-free. Instead, he recommends preventing the problem with removing still-standing water around the home, using insecticides and spraying on the deet.
There are smartphone repellent apps that range from free to around four dollars that offer the ultrasonic waves.
