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KU News: University Honors Program announces spring awards recipients

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From the Office of Public Affairs | http://www.news.ku.edu

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University Honors Program announces spring awards recipients
LAWRENCE — Each spring, the University Honors Program at the University of Kansas considers students for several annual awards and prizes that serve the dual purpose of providing financial support and recognizing students’ academic achievements and aspirations. The 2023 recipients include students from Emporia, Eudora, Overland Park and Paola as well as one recipient from Kansas City, Missouri.

Researchers uncover unconscious biases in the music of Carmen Sandiego
LAWRENCE — A University of Kansas School of Music scholar and alumnus have contributed a chapter to “The Intersection of Animation, Video Games, and Music,” exploring unconscious biases in music from the Carmen Sandiego franchise. In the two series they studied, co-author T.J. Laws-Nicola said, “There are all of these intentional or unintentional power structures being put out on display.”

Full stories below.

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Contact: Dustin Vann, University Honors Program, [email protected], @KUHonors
University Honors Program announces spring awards recipients
LAWRENCE — Every spring, the University Honors Program at the University of Kansas considers students for several annual awards and prizes that serve the dual purpose of providing financial support and recognizing students’ academic achievements and aspirations. The 2023 recipients are listed below, with a brief description of each award and its corresponding cash prize.
John Lubianetsky, an East Asian languages & cultures, global & international studies, and political science major from Kansas City, Missouri, received the RWJ Scholars Award in Memory of Richard W. Judy. Navya Singh, a biochemistry and pre-medical major from Chandigarh, India, received an honorable mention for the award, which provides $1,000 to the writer of an essay addressing some aspect of entrepreneurship, workforce development, Russian and American relations or their future.
Singh was also named winner of the Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett Outstanding Contribution Award, which gives $1,000 to a student exhibiting leadership, innovation and engagement in the honors program. Additionally, Singh will deliver remarks to incoming first-year students at Honors Convocation, which serves as the program’s kickoff event for the academic year.
Emily Schrumpf, an architecture major from Bridgeton, Missouri, received the Sara and Mary Edwards Paretsky Award for Creativity. Fatima Asif, a biochemistry, English and pre-medical major from Overland Park, received an honorable mention for the award, which provides $500 to a female junior honors student demonstrating creativity and originality in her field.
For outstanding performance in their first-year honors seminars, three deserving students received the David Paretsky Honors Program Book Award, which provides each with $300 to help cover textbook expenses:
1. Nicole Giam, a chemistry major from Overland Park
2. Kate Rosa, a molecular, cellular & developmental biology, East Asian languages & cultures, and pre-pharmacy major from Emporia
3. Steven Young, a chemical engineering major from Eudora.
Two students received this year’s Yarick-Morgan Prize for Excellence, a $10,000 nonrenewable scholarship recognizing graduates of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences who earned university honors and plan to pursue graduate studies at KU:
1. Claire Cox, a history major from Paola
2. Austin Nguyen, a biology and ecology & evolutionary biology major from Overland Park.
Additionally, Cox won the Whitcomb Essay Contest for her piece, “Decolonizing the Wakarusa Museum: The Role of Public Education and Forced Displacement Within the Settler Colonial Structure.” Cox will receive $500 and recognition on a plaque located in Nunemaker Center, home of the honors program. The contest is conducted in partnership with KU’s Department of Philosophy and is open to any undergraduate student, regardless of honors involvement.
“Student excellence takes many forms, and these students have demonstrated tremendous motivation and talent through their academic achievements,” said Sarah Crawford-Parker, the program’s director. “We are grateful to our donors who make recognizing this success possible.”
To learn more about each award, visit honors.ku.edu/awards.

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Contact: Rick Hellman, KU News Service, 785-864-8852, [email protected], @RickHellman
Researchers uncover unconscious biases in the music of Carmen Sandiego

LAWRENCE — According to contributing authors in a new book on music for animation, some versions of the popular educational franchise Carmen Sandiego serve to “corroborate the power structures connoted in exoticist and imperialist narratives.”

University of Kansas School of Music doctoral candidate T.J. Laws-Nicola and their co-author, Brent Ferguson, who holds a doctorate in music theory from KU, wrote the chapter “Who on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? Two Case Studies in Aural Identity” in the new book “The Intersection of Animation, Video Games, and Music: Making Movement Sing” (Routledge), edited by Lisa Scoggin and Dana Plank.
Laws-Nicola and Ferguson wrote that the composers who scored the 1992 deluxe version of the video game “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” (WWCS) and the 1994 animated series “Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?” (WECS) have chosen motifs that function as “an ironic set of musical chains — binding Carmen sonically where she is otherwise free.”
Carmen Sandiego is an antihero in the game’s universe. As Nicola and Ferguson wrote, players “travel the Earth as an A.C.M.E. (The Agency to Classify and Monitor Evildoers) agent capturing villains of the organization V.I.L.E. (Villain’s International League of Evil), which is led by Sandiego.” She is, they wrote, nonspecifically Latinx in ethnicity.
“It’s part of my dissertation research,” Laws-Nicola said. “I look at animation, and in particular bad women, women antagonists, and how they’re treated sonically. I’m looking at what the trends are and the unconscious bias we have when we’re listening to and also creating sounds.”
In the two Carmen Sandiego series they studied, Laws-Nicola said, “There are all of these intentional or unintentional power structures being put out on display.
“The whole series is sort of a cat-and-mouse game between her organization and A.C.M.E. … and there are a lot of symbols and ways you can take it. I don’t necessarily say that the animators of the game or the show expressly wanted Carmen thought of as an imperialist symbol. But often, when you create something, once you show it to the world, your intent doesn’t really matter so much as how it’s interpreted by those that consume what you’ve made. I just felt that there was a way to look at this sort of animation or show critically, which is how we how we approach things.”
The authors make particular note of exoticism in the theme song for WECS, which is an adaptation of a song in Mozart’s opera “The Abduction of the Seraglio.”
“The opening title theme for the show is a rock adaptation of the end of Act 1,” Laws-Nicola said. “It’s a big finale number from the opera. The Pasha, who is the antagonist of the opera because he stole the protagonist’s love interest — physically kidnapped and kept her — comes in with his entire crew.
“It’s done in the Alla Turca style, which was very popular at the time. Mozart was well known for creating or contributing to the creation of this style, which musically connoted the Turkish Janissaries. Typical aspects were lots of cymbals or percussion and big chorus-type numbers. An audience watching ‘The Abduction of the Seraglio’ at that time would have felt that that number was exotic, in part because the antagonist is supposed to be foreign, but also because the musical style was markedly different than anything else in the opera.
“The show uses an adaptation of that same theme. They just update it, which adds this extra layer. The song is already exoticist, and you have it filtered through a pop adaptation for a theme song for a thief who goes around the world stealing things. It just seemed like really tongue-in-cheek. A bit on the nose, if you will.
“Whether or not Mozart respected the Turkish Janissaries, there’s an exoticist connotation that is developed on top of all of this,” Laws-Nicola said. “So this connotation of thieving or taking what isn’t yours, or the keeping the racial purity of women, these are all sort of undertones and connotations of this exoticist style. And when you toss that in with a children show, and the woman antagonist happens to be a thief … you buy into that negative connotation, intentional or not. What we were trying to get at in the article is that the song’s a whole jam, and you can still enjoy the show. But keep in mind that the sonic layer of what’s being done here isn’t completely innocent.”
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KU News Service
1450 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence KS 66045
Phone: 785-864-3256
Fax: 785-864-3339
[email protected]
http://www.news.ku.edu

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, [email protected]

Today’s News is a free service from the Office of Public Affairs

Horticulture 2023 Newsletter No. 32

By
Ward Upham
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https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html

Blog Post: http://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org

Video of the Week: High Quality Grass Seed: Worth the Extra Expense
https://kansashealthyyards.org/all-videos/video/high-quality-grass-seed-worth-the-extra-expense

REMINDERS
1. Transplant cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower to their final location.
2. Plant salad crops such as lettuce, radishes, spinach, turnips, mustard and other greens from mid-August to early September for a fall harvest.
3. Harvest vegetable crops on a regular basis for season long production

TURFGRASS
Kentucky Bluegrass Variety Selection for Cool-Season Lawns
Though Kentucky bluegrass is not as heat and drought tolerant as tall fescue and the warm-season grasses, it is commonly used in northeastern Kansas where there is sufficient annual rainfall. It is also grown under irrigation in northwestern Kansas where the higher elevation allows for cooler summer night temperatures.
Recommended cultivars for high-maintenance lawns and low-maintenance lawns differ. High quality lawns are those that have irrigation to prevent stress and receive at least 3 fertilizer applications per year.
Lawns under a low-maintenance program may provide limited watering and fertilization.
Instead of the 4 to 5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year typical of high-maintenance turf, a low-maintenance program would include 1 to 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year. Obviously, a low-input lawn will not be as attractive as a higher-input lawn, but you can expect the cultivars listed above to look fairly good in the spring and fall, while going dormant in the summer. A listing of both high-maintenance and low-maintenance cultivars can be found here. (Ward Upham)

Recommended Tall Fescue Cultivars
Though several cool-season grasses are grown in Kansas, tall fescue is considered the best adapted and is recommended for home lawns. The cultivar K-31 is the old standby and has been used for years. However, there are a myriad of newer cultivars that have improved color, density and a finer leaf texture. Most of these newer varieties are very close to one another in quality.
We recommend a regional blend of tall fescue cultivars that are commonly available in local garden centers and hardware stores. National blends such as those in big box stores often do not do well in Kansas as they frequently contain cultivars that do not stand up to our stressful Kansas conditions. Pay special attention to the percent “Crop Seed” and “Weed Seed.” Anything over 0.01% of either of these would not be recommended.

Though K-31 may still be a good choice for large, open areas where weeds and a lighter green color can be tolerated, the new cultivars will give better performance for those who desire a high-quality turf. (Ward Upham)

FRUIT
Pears
Pears are typically ready for harvest from now through October. Don’t wait until fully ripe to harvest though; pears left to ripen on the tree may develop a gritty texture. Harvesting at maturity but before peak ripeness along with a chilling period can bring out the sweet flavors we love from pears.
Pears that are ready for harvest change to a darker green color. Some varieties will have brown spots on the skin. These are the fruits’ “breathing pores” known as lenticels. The lenticels are white or greenish-white on immature pears and change to brown at maturity. The fruit will develop a waxy coating and will separate easily from the branch when twisted. Mature fruit should have a pear aroma.
When harvesting, carefully remove the fruit by lifting it at an angle and twisting. Avoid damaging the twig where it attaches as this could negatively impact fruit development next year.
Refrigerate newly harvested pears at 31 to 50 degrees F for two days to several weeks depending on the variety.
To complete ripening, remove pears from the cold storage and allow to sit at 60 to 65 degrees F for one to three weeks. Conditions that are too warm may cause the fruit to rot instead of ripening. (Cynthia Domenghini)

TREES
Tubakia Leaf Spot of Oaks
Description: Dark, circular spots 1/4 to 1/2 -inch in diameter. Adjacent spots may become joined creating larger splotches.
Life Cycle: Spores from Tubakia leaf spot overwinter on the twigs and leaves of diseased trees. In the spring the wind and rain cause spores to travel spreading the disease to new hosts.
Damage: Tubakia leaf spot is most common in red oaks but can also be seen in maple, elm and hickory trees. The damage is typically apparent this time of year into early fall and is mostly an aesthetic problem. Spots that appear on leaf veins cause the tissue to die and in extreme cases can result in leaf drop.
Control: The best control is prevention. Ensure trees are not under environmental stress by maintaining proper soil moisture. Clean up debris in the fall to remove spores that may try to overwinter. Chemical treatment is not recommended. (Cynthia Domenghini)

VEGETABLES
Harvesting Winter Squash
Spaghetti squash, butternut, acorn and hubbard are all examples of winter squash. Contrary to their summer squash relatives, such as zucchini, winter squash varieties should not be harvested until they have fully matured. Harvesting too soon will result in produce that shrivels up and lacks flavor. Mature winter squash can be stored longer as well.
Mature winter squash will have a hard rind that cannot be easily sliced with your fingernail and the color will be deeper. To harvest, cut the squash away from the vine leaving about two-inches of stem attached to the fruit. Handle the squash with care to avoid damaging the rind. Any winter squash that has a damaged rind or is harvested without a stem attached will not store well and should be used soon after harvest.
Winter squash should be stored in a cool, dry area. For the best air flow and to prevent rot, store in a single layer and avoid allowing the fruit to touch. (Cynthia Domenghini)

MISCELLANEOUS
Composting: Choosing a Bin
Composting within a bin is not a requirement for decomposition to occur. However, containing your compost piles in some manner serves several purposes including keeping a tidy appearance and expediting decomposition.
An ideal compost pile should be no larger than 3 ft x 3 ft x ft. This is a manageable size for turning by hand and reduces the likelihood of compaction. At this size the pile will generate enough heat to improve decomposition and kill off pests and weed seeds within the pile. Do not make the pile any larger than 5 ft x 5 ft x 5 ft.
Compost bins that facilitate regular turning can be purchased, but a more cost effective option is to build one. Compost bins can be built using a variety of materials including some that can be sourced free such as pallets. Here are plans for some do-it-yourself options https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6957
A common compost setup uses three bins to store materials throughout the stages. The first bin stores green material. The second bin holds the actively decomposing material and the third bin houses the finished compost that is ready to be used.
Here is a video to help with selecting the compost bin system that is right for you. https://kansashealthyyards.org/all-videos/video/composting-choosing-a-bin (Cynthia Domenghini)

Contributors:
Cynthia Domenghini, Instructor
Ward Upham, Extension Associate

Division of Horticulture
1712 Claflin, 2021 Throckmorton
Manhattan, KS 66506
(785) 532-6173

For questions or further information, contact: [email protected] OR [email protected]
This newsletter is also available on the World Wide Web at:
http://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html
The web version includes color images that illustrate subjects discussed. To subscribe to this newsletter electronically, send an e-mail message to [email protected] or [email protected] listing your e-mail address in the message.

Brand names appearing in this newsletter are for product identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned.

K-State Research and Extension is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision or hearing disability, or a dietary restriction please contact Extension Horticulture at (785) 532-6173.

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Ernie Minton, Dean.

KU media advisory: Heavy traffic anticipated Aug. 17 and 18 for KU Student Housing move-in days

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Guest Columnist
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From the Office of Public Affairs | http://www.news.ku.edu

Media advisory

Contact: Ranjit Arab, Student Housing, 785-864-7889, [email protected], @KUStudentHouse
Heavy traffic anticipated Aug. 17 and 18 for KU Student Housing move-in days
LAWRENCE — University of Kansas employees and the Lawrence community should anticipate heavy traffic around the Lawrence campus on two days this week — Thursday, Aug. 17, and Friday, Aug. 18 — during KU Student Housing’s two-day move-in process for its residents.
Traffic around Daisy Hill is expected to be heaviest from about 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The busiest intersections will likely be 15th and Iowa streets and 23rd Street and Naismith Drive.
There also may be increased traffic at:
1. 11th and Louisiana streets, location of GSP and Corbin halls.
2. 19th Street at both Ousdahl Road and Ellis Drive, which are the entrances for Downs Residence Hall and Stouffer Place apartments.

Maps of each area, which were emailed to incoming residents and their families, can be found at the KU Student Housing website at housing.ku.edu/move.
If announcements are needed related to severe weather, tune to Kansas Public Radio at 91.5 FM.
An early move-in for band members, sorority recruitment and other residents took place Aug. 12.
For media:
Media are welcome to attend the event, but news vehicles will not be allowed to cross Irving Hill Bridge and enter the line of cars going to Daisy Hill.

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KU News Service
1450 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence KS 66045
Phone: 785-864-3256
Fax: 785-864-3339
[email protected]
http://www.news.ku.edu

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, [email protected]

Today’s News is a free service from the Office of Public Affairs

Glorified Rice

By
Debbie Dance Uhrig
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A few weeks ago, I had a flashback from my old Elementary school in Monticello, Missouri.  The school is no longer there, but my memories are abundant of the good ole’ days.  I have thoughts of the old teeter totter and the monkey bars, and Mr. Gale, our janitor/maintenance man.  This was back in the day when radiators ran on coal!! As you can imagine my memory was from the school kitchen.  I had no idea what it was called, I just remembered it as the cold rice salad.   Well folks that salad has a name, it’s called, ‘Glorified Rice’.
The salad was prominent in many Lutheran Churches and Scandinavian homes.  The immigrants who settled in the upper Midwest brought their recipe with them.  It was popular from the 1930’s – 1950’s.  It was served in many Minnesota homes.
The salad is nice if you use a starchy rice because it makes the dish creamier.  Last week I indicated I was going to share the new recipe, but I had some things to work out…. Well, the thing I had to work out was the rice.   I used regular long grain that was rinsed before using.  After cooling the rice and making the salad I said to myself?  “This isn’t it; the rice tastes like little sticks in a creamy salad!”
So, the search began…. finally, I found a blog/chatter where people were discussing the salad.  The thing they were searching for was how to make it creamy.  One individual from up north went to her 80+ mother and asked her how they made it so creamy?  Well, the answer is what I am sharing with you today.
The answer is:  Cook your rice in milk or cream and to do so until almost all the liquid is absorbed.  At that time, you allow it to cool and the starch content will help it to thicken.  Once it’s cool you combine it together with remaining ingredients!
What type of rice you use is going to be a personal call.   I’ve chosen Arborio, an Italian Rice, frequently used in Risotto (A wonderful dish!).  Other good choices would be Jasmine or regular long grain.  The Italian Arborio may contain more starch than regular long grain rice, but nutritionists say it’s still better for us than the long grain.
Arborio is easy to distinguish as it’s a short, fat, pearly white & oval shaped rice.  It has less milling than other rice, more starch and when you cook it the rice is firmer, chewier and creamier.  You also do not rinse this rice before using.  The method for cooking arborio is also different from all other rice.  You heat the liquid the rice is cooked in and gradually add it to the rice.  Therefore; cooking arborio takes a little more time.   You could also state that I have taken this recipe back to the ‘purist’ stage.  This basically means you are making the recipe in the originally form without modern short-cuts.
In your cupboards or freezers rice will last several years.  As my friend P.J. always said, just check for weevils!!!  (She was a missionary kid raised in Malaysia, and you truly checked for bugs!)  If the idea of having too much rice in the cupboard is a problem, see if a friend wants to split it with you.   Below I have listed some pricing on 4-5 of my frequently used types.   The pricing is from Walmart or Sam’s on most.
Long Grain 25 lbs. 12.98
Jasmine 25 lbs. 17.98 2lbs was $4.00
Basmati from India
20 lbs. 19.68
Arborio 5 lbs. 33.99 2lbs. $7.57
Amazon2 lbs. $6.58
Droughts in Italy have also pushed the price of arborio significantly higher this past year.  Most of our arborio comes from California or Texas.  Typically, they say arborio is a little less than double the cost of other rice.  Arborio is also named from the area in which it was raised in Italy.
Refrigerate the rice just as soon as it is cool.  As there is a toxin in rice called Bacillus cereus which can make you very ill, if the rice is left out too long.  Thus, the reason why most hospitals cook and then freeze rice before it’s served to patients.  Many think they are getting sick from MSG when they eat Oriental food and often it’s not that at all!
I could talk about rice all day, how about we get to this new recipe.
Glorified Rice
4 1/2 cups milk,
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups Arborio Rice, unwashed
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon clear vanilla
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple tidbits, well drained, or use crushed
10-15 ounces Marchino cherries, cut into quarters, drain well
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
8 ounces commercial whipped cream or ‘fresh’
For fresh use 1 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, and 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Options:  toasted pecans, coconut, and other fruits.
In one saucepan heat the milk, butter and salt.  When heated thoroughly slowly pour small portions over the rice in a different pan & cook.  You will stop cooking the rice when it is still creamy, but not runny. (Test to make sure it is done.)  It is going to thicken as it cools.  Stir the sugar and vanilla into the cooked rice.  Time to sit and cool.  Lastly; add fruits, marshmallows, and any additional ingredients with the whipped cream. Gently turn the whipped cream into the ingredients.  Refrigerate.
I would say I divided my warmed milk into about 4 different additions.  To save money use regular long grain rice, but cook it in the milk or cream!

7 Mosquito-Repelling Gimmicks to Steer Clear Of

By
Guest Columnist
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0

You’ve probably heard of—and perhaps even tried—more than a few questionable mosquito repellents.

Maybe you’ve rolled your eyes at home remedies but secretly wondered, do mouthwash, dryer sheets, and garlic really work? Or perhaps you’re considering ditching oily DEET spray in favor of a high-tech ultrasonic device or bug zapper.

But the question remains: Which methods are truly effective and which are supported only by flimsy marketing claims (or wishful thinking)?

The following gadgets are not recommended by experts and are unlikely to provide satisfactory protection against mosquitoes.

Ultrasonic repellents

These handheld electronic devices supposedly deter mosquitoes using high-frequency sounds, eliminating the need for chemical sprays. Some manufacturers claim that their gadgets mimic the wing beat frequency of male mosquitoes, driving away females that have already mated, while others claim the sound mimics predacious dragonflies.

But that’s not what the science says. Rutgers University reports that studies have repeatedly shown sonic repellents to be ineffective.

“I get a lot of questions about things like ultrasonic repellents,” says Scott Schell, UW Extension entomologist. “Many times these products are based on a grain of truth. Moths can hear bat calls and will take evasive action in flight when they hear bats doing echolocation. But mosquitoes don’t have that ability to hear. The idea that this sonic device is mimicking bats (or the wing frequency of dragonflies)—well, that’s not the case.”

The American Mosquito Society concludes that while marketing campaigns appealing to the public’s mistrust of chemical control have proved effective, sonic devices have no repellency value.

An electrocution device with a demonstrated ability to attract and kill thousands of insects in a 24-hour period? Surely this is the way to go.

But these devices may not be such a great solution after all. Studies have shown that while bug zappers do kill some mosquitoes, most insects wiped out by these devices aren’t pests. Scientists at the University of Notre Dame found no significant difference in the number of mosquitoes present in yards with bug zappers compared to those without.

Even worse, many of the non-pest insects killed by bug zappers prey on pest species. These beneficial insects also serve as important food sources for other organisms, such as songbirds.

Dryer sheets, mouthwash, and more

Forget all those fancy, highfalutin devices—what about going back to the basics? Some people swear by minty mouthwash, while others tout scented dryer sheets.

As with other mythical cures, these questionable tactics harbor a grain of truth. “Listerine would have some short-term repellency because menthol is one of many volatile chemicals that provide a powerful smell that masks your presence,” says Schell. “But most of these products are short lived. They don’t last long enough to provide you protection through an evening in your yard.”

Perfumed dryer sheets share a similar story. Their powerful fragrance may act as a short-term repellent, but doesn’t last for a meaningful period of time.

“Scented dryer sheets perfumed with linalool and/or citronella certainly made the old hat smell better and with one sheet over each ear and one in the back, they did protect the wearer’s head from mosquitoes while the fragrance was potent. However, the hat-deployed dryer sheets tested did not protect the arms or legs from the mosquitoes that inhabit the Laramie River Valley and were annoying when they started flapping in the breeze.”

Scott Schell, UW Extension Entomologist

Carbon dioxide traps

Mosquitoes are drawn to the carbon dioxide you exhale. When they come closer to investigate, they detect their next blood meal. So, what about using a trap that emits carbon dioxide?

A good idea in theory, but so far, these traps aren’t a reliable source of protection. While they do capture mosquitoes, studies indicate they don’t reduce the rates at which humans are bitten. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison also note that the traps they tested broke easily and some manufacturers made claims that couldn’t be verified.

Wristbands

Bracelets treated with insect repellent sound like a convenient option, especially when the alternative is spraying oily products onto your skin. But it turns out these devices aren’t very effective either.

Part of the problem is that wristbands provide only localized protection. While a bracelet may repel mosquitoes near your wrist or lower arm, it doesn’t offer full-body protection. A wristband containing DEET repellent, paired with other deterrents (like protective clothing and topical repellents) may provide some benefit, but is not recommended as a go-to option.

None of the three wristband products tested in a 2017 study published in the Journal of Insect Science resulted in a significant reduction of mosquito attraction. The researchers hypothesized that the concentrations emitted by those products were too low to provide measurable protection.

Citronella candles and natural repellents

Consumer Reports advises against relying on natural repellents (such as clove, lemongrass, and rosemary oils) and citronella candles. Their testers found that natural repellents did not last as long as other products.

They also point out that natural repellents are not subject to the same regulations and rigorous testing the Environmental Protection Agency requires for other products. Since the chemicals contained in natural repellents are deemed harmless, companies are not obligated to provide evidence of their efficacy.

Citronella candles were also deemed ineffective, a finding corroborated in the 2017 study published in the Journal of Insect Science. While citronella oil has mosquito-repelling properties, citronella candles do not tend to provide adequate protection.

“A citronella candle in calm conditions where you’re getting a lot of fragrance around you could probably provide some protection,” says Schell. “But they’re not considered highly effective.”

Fuel-powered mosquito repellent devices

These devices, touted for their ability to create mosquito-repelling zones, use a butane fuel cartridge to vaporize pyrethroid insecticides, such as allethrin. “It’s based on the idea that you’re surrounded by a cloud of allethrin vapors—and it works,” says Schell.

However, these gadgets aren’t a great choice at high elevation or in windy conditions (both of which tend to be common in Wyoming). “At our altitude [7220 feet] in Laramie, oxygen content is not very high. If you’re at low elevation (specifically, less than 4,000 feet according to a leading manufacturer) and it’s calm, these products provide some protection,” Schell explains.

Similar products that use electrical power (instead of fuel) to create a repellent vapor cloud are better suited to high-altitude use.

So, what does work?

Currently, DEET and picaridin are the two active ingredients most effective at repelling mosquitoes.

Despite common misconceptions, DEET products are used extensively with little risk to human health when applied appropriately and to label instructions.

Note that a higher concentration of DEET in a product means that the product will remain effective for a longer period of time. A higher concentration does not mean that the product is better at repelling mosquitoes.

If you’re going on an extended adventure in area with a lot of biting mosquitoes, Schell recommends purchasing an encapsulated DEET product. These repellents release DEET slowly over time rather than spiking and then dropping. These products also tend to have a lower DEET concentration, which can be more comfortable on the skin in hot, humid environments.

If you’re only going to be outside for four to six hours or so, repellent sprays containing 20 to 30 percent picaridin are another good option, says Schell. Picaridin is a synthetic chemical that mimics an insect-repellent compound present in some pepper plants.

Studies have shown that picaridin-based repellents provide similar protection to DEET-based repellents. Consumer Reports recommends picaridin pumps or sprays over lotions or wipes.

Your product selection will likely vary depending on activity type, duration, and location. “Try to consider products that match your needs,” Schell advises. “If you are only going to be out for a short time, maybe use some of those more pleasant, shorter-acting products. If you’re going on a long expedition in the Canadian bush, you’ll want the best, or it’s going to be a miserable trip.”

Finally, don’t forget to take susceptibility into account. Mosquitoes find some unfortunate humans more attractive than others. “You can have two people sitting out on a deck, one with no repellent on, and the other getting a bunch of bites even with repellent,” Schell notes. “Keep in mind there’s a lot of susceptibility differences.”

As reported in the High Plains Journal

 

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