Mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, mites, house fly, spiders, cockroaches are responding to 38-44 kHz; lizards and rats respond to sounds above 52 kHz. It is possible to generate sound fields intense enough to cause both auditory and non-auditory adverse effects, in both the 10–20 kHz and the less-researched 20– 25 kHz ranges.
The oscillating frequency is in the 35 KHz-45 KHz range with a typical value of about 40 KHz. It has been found that this is the most effective frequency range for the flea and tick repulsion application.
The study extends and supports previous findings that ultrasound is ineffective as a means of controlling common pests of households and pets.
Ticks hate the smell of lemon, orange, cinnamon, lavender, peppermint, and rose geranium so they'll avoid latching on to anything that smells of those items. Any of these or a combination can be used in DIY sprays or added to almond oil and rubbed on exposed skin.
Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. EPA's helpful search tool can help you find the product that best suits your needs. Always follow product instructions.
Ticks can be active year round
The time of day when ticks are most active can also vary from species to species, as some prefer to hunt during the cooler and more humid hours of the early morning and evenings, while others are more active at midday, when it is hotter and dryer.
(In a 2015 study, US Department of Agriculture researchers actually found that sweetgrass oil does have some bug-repelling properties.) Native Americans would also rub fat on their skin — often from bears, but also from eagles, raccoons, and fish — in an attempt to find some relief from mosquitoes.
Some humans and animals develop tick immunity naturally as they encounter ticks in their lives. Scientists have also induced ATR by feeding ticks on animals like cattle, mice, and guinea pigs until their immune systems gradually learned to kill the ticks off.
Vicks VapoRub - The smell of menthol and camphor in this ointment can effectively repel ticks when applied to skin, clothing, shoes and outdoor gear.
These sounds are supposed to be alarming to mice and discourage them from settling or feeding in affected areas. However, the sound emitted by these repellents cannot pass through walls, and furniture may limit their range. Data on these tools show little to no effectiveness.
Oregano oil has been found to be an effective insect repellent. Dilute a few drops of oregano oil with 1 teaspoon of a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, argan oil, or almond oil and rub on your exposed skin. You can also use it as a spray, by adding 5-10 drops of water into one cup of water and spray onto skin.
But what makes a space most attractive to a tick? Common elements include: Heat and Carbon Dioxide - Ticks are drawn to the heat and carbon dioxide that warm-blooded mammals give off. Movement - Ticks are also drawn to movement and vibrations, causing them to extend their forelegs in the hope of finding a host.
Use insect repellent containing DEET, and check your body for ticks after spending time outdoors. To prevent bed bugs, regularly wash your bedding in hot water, vacuum your mattress and box spring, and seal any cracks and crevices around your bed. Consider using bed bug-proof mattress covers to prevent infestations.
Of all the various insect repellents available, DEET has been shown to be the most effective at repelling ticks. “There is pretty good data that DEET works against ticks,” confirms Durland Fish, professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health.
When lawns are nearby, ticks move into mowed areas, too. But more than 80% stay in the lawn's outer 9 feet. Low-lying ground covers and low-hanging shrubs in gardens or foundation plantings are also prime spots for ticks. Ticks typically move onto humans or animals that brush against grasses or weeds when passing by.
Surprisingly, opossums eat a high number of ticks compared to other animals that prey on them. So much so that the grooming habits of opossums acts like a vacuum cleaner for the ticks that latch onto them. These marsupials groom themselves regularly, much like a cat.
Ticks don't drown easily but they don't swim either, making flushing them down the toilet a perfectly safe means of disposal.
Wear long sleeves, long pants, and tall socks. This helps keep ticks on the outside of clothing rather than on your skin. Wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to spot. Tuck shirts into pants, and tuck pants into shoes or socks.
Salt: Regular table salt can kill tick larvae and eggs, dehydrating them until they fall apart. You can kill ticks in your house by sprinkling salt over your floor and furniture, applying a layer at night and then vacuuming it in the morning.
Showering within two hours after being outside (ideally, as soon as possible) can also help find and wash off unattached ticks. If the tick is not attached (if it has not bitten you), grab it with a tissue. If the tick has bitten you, remove it as soon as possible.
Rather than making a nest, female ticks opt to lay their eggs anywhere they please. This is usually a soft spot, such as a plot of soil or within blades of grass. What might be called a “nest” is simply a mass of sticky eggs. Tick nests may contain hundreds of eggs but are usually only an inch at most in diameter.
States with the fewest ticks carrying these diseases are Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. They do, however, have tick species that carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and tick paralysis, among others.