The Efficacy of Ultrasonic Pest Repellent Devices against the Australian Paralysis Tick, Ixodes holocyclus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Amonrat Panthawong , Stephen L. Doggett & Theeraphap Chareonviriyaphap rsearch the effectiveness of ultrasonic repellers against the Australian paralysis tick.

Ultrasonic repellers are widely available and marketed to protect against tick bite. To date, there has been no research on the effectiveness of ultrasonic devices against the Australian paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus. Thus, this study tested the effectiveness of nine ultrasonic devices with different sound frequencies against female I. holocyclus. Testing found that ultrasonic devices produced less than 19.5% repellency. The low-level repellency from ultrasonic repellers means that they cannot be recommended for prevention against tick bite.

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