Chicago, Ill. (AUGUST, 2002)—If you like to sit outdoors on hot summer evenings but are tired of swatting pesky mosquitoes, help is at hand from Hammacher Schlemmer - the company famous for its innovative and unusual products for more than 150 years.

According to William Booth, president of Hammacher Schlemmer, the Full-Acre Sonic Insect Trap trapped more than five times as many mosquitoes as other leading traps in recent testing. "It really gets the job done," he said. "And it's not only effective, it's safe around children and pets, too. Unlike some traps that use propane, the Full-Acre Sonic Insect Trap uses no explosive gases. Instead, it uses genetic lures to attract mosquitoes and other biting insects."

Biting insects are genetically programmed to be attracted to four types of signals-sound, smell, sight, and heat-and the Full-Acre Sonic Insect Trap simulates all four of these genetic lures so that insects are irresistibly drawn to it and away from humans. A patented Sonic Heartbeat Lure is the Trap's primary "secret weapon" in the war against bugs. Engineered to emit low-frequency vibrations that mimic a human heartbeat-the primary long-range insect attractant-it effectively attracts biting insects. As the insects approach, they encounter three more lures-radiating heat and subtle octenol scent, which imitate the temperature and scent of the human body, plus ultraviolet light-and fly into the trap.

Results of head-to-head tests in a variety of environments are impressive, and the Full-Acre Sonic Insect Trap was the clear winner over its competitors. In a salt marsh, it captured 357 mosquitoes compared to a rival model's 70, in a horse corral it caught 98 flies compared to its rival's 3, and in controlled laboratory tests it caught 269 of 277 released flies-leaving the other two test models to capture the remaining eight.

The unit protects one full acre, even in windy conditions, and attracts mosquitoes, flies, no-see-ums, and most biting insects quietly and easily, without the annoying "zap" sound of some bug catchers. With its convenient carrying handle, it's completely portable-it weighs only nine pounds and measures just 20" high x 18" in diameter-so it's easy to position during back yard picnics or take along to a vacation cottage. A 50' power cord allows maximum reach, and the unit uses just pennies of electricity a week. The Full-Acre Sonic Insect Trap is priced at $299.95.

Founded in 1848, Hammacher Schlemmer is the oldest catalog company in America, offering the latest innovations that provide effective solutions to everyday problems. The company continues its tradition of innovative offerings through its catalog, retail stores in New York and Chicago, and web site (www.hammacher.com).