Stupidity….there’s an app for that

Just when I think I’ve seen everything…I discover there is an app for your iPhone that claims to  repel mosquitoes with high frequency sound:

“Have you ever been camping and you were worried about those mosquitos [sic] outside near your camp light? Wondering how soon it will be before they attack you in your sleep? Well, today’s the day that the “AntiMosquito” app will save your life! It produces ultrasonic-sounds, ranging from 16 KHz to 20 KHz, at frequencies that are way too high for us — humans — to hear!

I personally tried this app when I was on vacation and it worked perfectly! There is one downside to this app, but it’s not really the developer’s fault but rather Mother Nature’s: other animals can here [sic] these sounds and could make them go crazy. The only other problem is that a few people stated that some mosquitoes (again Mother Nature) aren’t affected by these sounds. So a “patch” would be appreciated to cover these specific mosquitoes.”

And, gentle readers, I believe you know what I’m going to say about this:

BULL.

SHIT.

I have covered, in detail, the utter failure of any ultrasound device to repel anything besides common sense.
And, perhaps, money is also repelled out of your wallet.

The developers of this app have clearly gone to a great deal of time and trouble to make this thing look like it’s doing something. And, for all I know, if the iPhone is *capable* of producing sound in these frequencies–which is doubtful–it may really be doing so.  However, that doesn’t change the fact that ultrasound has been shown again and again and again over the last 20 years to utterly FAIL at repelling mozzies.

I would like to direct your attention to this excellent publication by Purdue University’s Extension service.

Whatever Works For You: “New Magical Remedies for Pest Eradication”

I can provide that note in a PDF form, if you would like to print it out and have it handy to give to credulous folks that want to tell you that this app does anything.