Do These DIY Pest Control Products Actually Work?
Do These DIY Pest Control Products Actually Work?
With the multitude of pest control products, sprays, and gadgets that you can buy at any large hardware store, it seems like everyone’s pest problems should be easily solved – right? Maybe not. There are some products that have been proven effective against different kinds of common pests, but not many of them do what they claim. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular DIY pest products and how effective they really are against those pesky backyard pests.
Bug Zappers
This is one product that seems like it was found in every backyard for a long time. It is a small to medium sized contraption that can hang from a tree branch or a hook on a porch. They use a UV light to attract insects, ideally mosquitoes, to the product so that they can be electrocuted in between the grids on the zapper. The goal with this product is that any kind of stinging or biting pest, like mosquitoes and biting flies, will be eradicated every night with the zapper and leave us alone during the daytime when we’re trying to enjoy our outside space. The concept of the zapper is great and seems like the easiest way to get rid of insects on a larger scale, but there are a couple different problems with this.
One very crucial fact is that they don’t actually attract mosquitoes really at all. In different tests and observations, it was discovered that only about .6% of the zapped insects were mosquitoes or biting flies. The zapper tends to kill more of the beneficial insects that help our plants and ecosystem, but one of these may surprise you. Moths, which are known to repeatedly attack our porch and patio lights every night, are actually pollinators! Moths can carry pollen much further than bees can, so they help diversify plants wherever they go. They help our flowers and plants grow and thrive, which is why it isn’t good that they are taken out by bug zappers. Also, any moths and other beneficial insects that are zapped are not able to be food for nocturnal predators like bats and nighthawks. This can throw off the ecosystem if it lasts long enough, which can cause the population of other insects to thrive while the predators go down.
Another issue with bug zappers is that if they do attract mosquitoes, the insects might become disinterested with the light when they get closer and turn to the people or animals that are innocently hanging out by the zapper instead. Mosquitoes are drawn to warm blood or pollen over everything, so they would definitely change course to us if they happened to go towards the light.
A third issue, and the worst in some instances, is the logistics of the zapping. When an insect is zapped, it is unlikely that it will just gently rest in the bottom of the contraption. Many of them explode in a way once they are electrocuted, which means that anything in and on them spreads along with their substance. Many pests carry diseases and bacteria on their bodies, which can spread when the big hits the zapper. It is estimated that these gross material can be thrown up to seven feet away, which means that any surrounding furniture or decorations is likely spotted with bug juice (and we don’t mean the sugary 2000’s drink). Basically, it’s best to avoid bug zappers and just keep a trusty fly swatter nearby to help backyard parties stay fun.
Citronella Candles
This is another popular backyard product. These candles, and other products that use citronella oil, promotes the idea that they can ward off mosquitoes in a wide range. Citronella oil is derived from two kinds of grasses, and is in about a 5% concentration in a candle. They supposedly mask scents that are attractive to mosquitoes, such as carbon dioxide. Citronella candles do seem to be pretty effective in terms of how well they repel pests. They cut down the number of mosquito bites by about 50%, which is definitely an improvement. But there are still more products that work better than citronella candles.
Lemon eucalyptus is much more effective as an essential oil, as an oddly specific recommendation. You could always sprinkle some drops in water and spray it in the outside area you will be spending time in, or diffuse it in an essential oil diffuser. This still won’t be the most effective pest control ever, but it will likely help in some way. Another effective measure against patio pests is a simple fan. Insects can’t fly in strong winds and it helps to cover up our natural scents, which means that they won’t come close enough to us to bite. Citronella candles are harmless and can make a fun aesthetic decoration, but they won’t solve all of your mosquito problems, no matter how much you burn them.
Mosquito Nets
This is the first one on the list that is actually consistently effective! Mosquito nets are commonplace in countries that are unfortunately affected by diseases like malaria and Zika. These are the most common ones that are transmitted by mosquitoes, which makes them annoyingly dangerous for their small size. Mosquito nets, also called bednets, are usually made from polyester and hung above beds, desks, and cooking areas. They are hung from frames, which is more useful than being directly covered with it. If we were to lay wrapped up in a mosquito net like a modern-day mummy, the mosquitoes would still be able to bite us through it since our skin is touching the net. Light and air can easily flow through the net, so there is no danger of suffocation in the mosquito net.
Some species of mosquitoes have learned to avoid the nets, and there are even some that are small or smart enough to break through the net. But these species are few and far between, so mosquito nets are still very effective. They also come in different sizes, which makes it easier to match the surface area to your bed size. Insecticide treated nets are also available, but a regular mosquito net should do the trick just fine. Since mosquitoes mainly bite between 10:00 PM and 2:00AM, mosquito nets are a great option to be sure that you will have a bite-free night and get some sleep.
Bug Spray
This is another pretty reliable way to repel pests on your own. There are a million and one brands of bug spray that are available today, and the natural varieties are gaining popularity. These sprays basically make an invisible cloud of insect repellant around you, at least for a time while the spray lasts. They are so efficient because they mask our natural scent that attracts biting pests, like mosquitoes, since the repellant is stronger than our carbon dioxide that we produce. Two common ingredients in most bug sprays are DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) and picardin (KBR3023), which are the crucial pieces in repelling pests.
There are many types of bug sprays, it’s hard to know which one is best and how to best use it. The specific product is up to you, since only you know what is best for you, your family, and your budget. We do suggest looking for an EPA number on the bottle, since that will show that the spray is not toxic or have lasting effects on people. In general, there aren’t any toxic effects on us from using bug spray. Our skin doesn’t absorb the spray hardly at all, so we’re not in danger. It is a good idea to not ingest it in any way though, no matter how natural it claims to be. When you spray your kids with bug spray, try to avoid their hands since they will likely find a way to put them in their mouths. Also, don’t spray it on anyone’s face, since it is not made for that area. At the end of the day that you used bug spray, whether you went camping, fishing, or playing sports, make sure to shower and wash it off. It’s not a good idea to go to bed with bug spray still on your skin, since it’ll just make your sheets dirty and leave you feeling gross.
Ultrasonic Repellent
Ultrasonic repellant is a less popular option these days, but it is still on the market. Originally patented and popularized around the 1960s, these devices are designed to keep pests away without bothering us. They emit about 65,000 Hz on average, which is higher than humans can hear. These are short wavelength and high frequency sound waves, which are invisible since they are strictly auditory. There will typically be a light to show that the device is on since the frequency is beyond what humans and pets can hear. Unfortunately, this futuristic device is basically too good to be true.
In short, there is no scientific evidence that supports this product’s claims about repelling all kinds of pests. There is not a significant enough reduction in pests to validate ultrasonic repellant as a valid product. These contraptions may be more cost effective than other pest control products, since they often come in multipacks, but they do next to nothing. So it’s best to save your money and skip this gimmick in favor of some of the previous products that actually give good results.
Repellent Bracelets
This is a less popular pest-repelling product, but it is one that some people still swear by. The bracelet is advertised as containing all of the elements and repellants to ward off mosquitoes without the mess of bug spray. And there are definitely good, active ingredients in them. Unfortunately, they aren’t concentrated enough to actually be reliably effective against mosquitoes. Even when it is effective against mosquitoes, it’s only in the direct area of the bracelet. They will simply move to another spot on the person where the bracelet is not, which is literally anywhere else on their body. While these bracelets might be cool fashion statements, they are not the most productive pest control products on the market.
Our Pest Control Services are Reliable
Products like these ones are sometimes good for helping with a small amount of pests, but big or tough infestations cannot be solved with a product from the hardware store. While most of these products aren’t the most reliable inventions out there, our pest control treatments and inspections are the most dependable services for your pest problems. Contact us at any time to learn more about how we can serve you, and take care of the pest issues that those store-bought items could not.
Citations
Alexander, C.J. (2021, September 28). Ultrasonic pest control: Does it really work?. Family Handyman. Available at https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/ultrasonic-pest-control-does-it-really-work/ (Accessed on April 20, 2022).
Are mosquitoes outsmarting mosquito nets? (n.d.). National Geographic Blog. Retrieved on April 20, 2022, from https://blog.education.nationalgeographic.org/2017/04/03/are-mosquitoes-outsmarting-mosquito-nets/
Do bug sprays actually work? (2020, August 1). Health Essentials. Retrieved on April 20, 2022, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/do-bug-sprays-actually-work/
How does bug spray work? (2021, July 26). Plunkett’s Pest Control. Retrieved on April 20, 2022, from https://plunketts.net/blog/how-does-bug-spray-work
Mahoney, D. (2019, August 14). Do bug zappers work? Yeah – about as well as any other indiscriminate wildlife slaughter. NYT Wirecutter. Available at https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/do-bug-zappers-work/ (Accessed on April 20, 2022).
Mettler, L. (2019, June 10). Do citronella candles really work? The answer might surprise you. Today. Available at https://www.today.com/home/how-repel-mosquitoes-summer-do-citronella-candles-really-work-t127599 (Accessed on April 20, 2022).
Sanci, E. (2021, September 2). Citronella candles don’t really work. Stop buying them. NYT Wirecutter. Available at https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/citronella-candles-mosquito-repellents-dont-work/ (Accessed on April 20, 2022).
Spicer, E. (2022). Top 3 best mosquito nets (2022 review). Pest Strategies. Available at https://www.peststrategies.com/product-reviews/mosquito-products/best-mosquito-nets-products/ (Accessed on April 20, 2022).
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