Unlike bait traps, which capture pests where they are, ultrasonic repellent is used to drive pests away. Ideally, the high-frequency sound will make the pests abandon the area, leaving you pest free. The good news is that this sound is at a frequency above human hearing, so it's not distracting or annoying to humans.
In summary, ultrasonic pest repellers emit high-frequency sounds that manufacturers claim reduce household pest infestation, but laboratory tests have shown that the majority of such devices do not work as advertised, in violation of FTC guidelines.
Studies have shown time and time again that there is no strong evidence to suggest that ultrasonic pest repellers are effective.
While the idea of using high-frequency sound to deter pests is intriguing, studies have consistently shown that these devices have limited to no impact on most pests, including rodents and insects.
Practical Tips for Using Natural Scents to Deter Insects
Combine essential oils like citronella, peppermint, tea tree, and lavender to create your own bug-repellent spray. Mix with water and a little alcohol to help disperse the oil.
Bugs hate the smells associated with repellency, such as lavender, citronella, vinegar, peppermint, and geranium. These oils are considered a natural way of driving away bugs from your home without harming you, your family, and other animals.
Bed bugs are sensitive to strong smells and certain scents can help keep them away. Essential oils like lavender, tea tree and peppermint are popular choices. These oils not only smell good but also act as natural repellents.
Among the many orders of insects, hearing is known to exist in only a few: Orthoptera (crickets, grasshoppers, katydids), Homoptera (cicadas), Heteroptera (bugs), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), and Diptera (flies). In the Orthoptera, ears are present, and the ability to perceive sounds has been well established.
However, the question remains: Are these ultrasonic devices an effective pest control method? The answer in our experience: Sadly, no. There are several reasons for the failure of these devices for pest management purposes.
Yes, fans can help reduce mosquito presence and bites, but their effectiveness depends on several factors. Air Circulation: Fans create a breeze that disperses carbon dioxide and body heat, making it difficult for mosquitoes to locate their human hosts.
A little more about ultrasounds
They are directional, so they do not pass through walls. They bounce off hard surfaces and fill the room with sound pressure. A single device can protect up to 46 m2. As they do not pass through walls, you may need to use more than one device.
Eliminate any sources of moisture, such as leaky pipes, roofs and clogged gutters. Seal cracks and gaps around windows and doors with a silicone-based caulk. Remove trash often, and keep garbage containers clean and covered. Keep food in airtight containers, and clean up crumbs and spills immediately.
The short answer is no, ultrasonic rodent repellents don't work. Some homeowners have noted an immediate effect at first, but over time the rodent problem will continue to persist.
For decades, peppermint oil has served as a potent insect repellent and research has confirmed this fact. When used around entry points in the home and applied via sachets near doors and windows or diffuser or spray, it can help repel ticks, spiders, roaches, moths, flies, fleas, beetles and ants.
There are electronic devices that emit high-frequency sound waves that act as cockroach repellents. These devices emit sound in the 22-65 Khz range which is inaudible to humans but can be detected by certain pests, including cockroaches.
Ultrasonic noise is designed to be above the level of human hearing, but even if you do not notice it you could suffer adverse health effects as a result of being exposed to the sound.
Do ultrasonic pest repellers affect Wi-Fi or household devices? We also get asked about the impact of these devices on other household items. While electric pest repellers do not affect Wi-Fi, they have been documented to interfere with telephone quality and reception of both landlines and cell phones.
Thus when some studies show that pest infestations do decrease, they have no way of proving that it was a result of the ultrasonic sound. For these reasons, researchers strongly advise against buying into these devices. There is simply not enough evidence.
Anthropogenic noise affects insect and arachnid behavior, thus changing interactions within and between species.
Just like you, insects have organs that can pick up these vibrations and interpret them. However, you may not always hear what they hear, because these organs have a frequency range that they can pick and decode. So, yeah. Insects do hear.
While some people believe that the strong smell of VapoRub might repel bed bugs, there is no reliable data to support this claim.
Does peppermint oil repel bed bugs? Peppermint oil can repel and may also kill bed bugs if the oil is sprayed directly on the bugs. In other words, peppermint oil is a natural bed bug contact insecticide, but as time goes by items previously sprayed with peppermint oil do not impact the bed bugs.