Money Wasters

This time of year, stores are filled with products that promise to banish bugs. Many don’t work, and some even make matters worse. Don’t bother with...

Bug zappers: These gadgets work by first attracting bugs and then killing them, either chemically or with electricity. They’re inherently problematic because they attract insects from farther away. And since they kill beneficial insects, too, you may be doing your yard more harm than good.

Vacuum traps: These contraptions work by emitting light or carbon dioxide, which attracts pests, and then sucking them in. But the same problem applies as with zappers: You’re sending out an invitation to pests. However, these traps are fine if used within a confined space, like a screened tent.

Ultrasonic devices: Studies have repeatedly shown that devices that claim to drive insects away with an ultrasonic sound (which insects can supposedly hear but humans can’t) simply don’t work, says Joel Coats, a professor of entomology and toxicology at Iowa State University, in Ames.

Smokers: Citronella oil is a natural insect repellent, but the candles release the oil only when burned. Surrounding yourself with candles works to some degree, but then you’re breathing in a lot of smoke. Still, candle smoke is safer than the smoke from mosquito coils, which contain a chemical that may cause cancer, according to one recent study done at the University of California, Riverside.

Wristbands: Repellents work only on areas that have been treated, and untreated patches of skin are fair game — so wristbands treated with DEET or citronella protect just your wrists.

Avon Skin-So-Soft: Despite claims and testimonials, numerous studies show that Skin-So-Soft, a body lotion from Avon that contains citronella, provides protection for only about 20 minutes.