How To Get Rid Of Mosquitos
Ever heard the phrase, ‘If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito’?
If there’s one thing that clouds the arrival of warmer weather, it’s the guaranteed increase in pesky bugs buzzing around and threatening to ruin our picnics and barbecues and disturb our summer slumbers. None are quite so irritating as the mosquito.
Having provided professional mosquito removal services for these pesky flies for well over a decade, we’ve come to realise that mosquitos universally unite us beyond language and borders with their incessant buzzing and biting. They drive us into a pool of frenzied rage when it seems that whatever we do to stop them, they just keep coming back for more.
So, it stands to reason that you would be wondering how to get rid of mosquitos in your home.
How To Get Rid of Mosquitos
Aside from leaving us itching like crazy and causing some pretty unsightly red welts over our bodies, mosquitos can also carry some more dangerous diseases, like Malaria, and the Zika virus. Mosquito-borne diseases can be at best painful, and at worse, deadly. Whilst your risk in Australia is relatively low, the best way to protect yourself from mosquitoes is by prevention.
If you’re ready to free your summer from endless swatting, scratching and swearing, this guide will offer you some pro tips on how to mosquito-proof your house
Read on to find out how to get rid of pesky mosquitos once and for all.
Easy methods to get rid of mosquitos include:
- Use fly screens and mosquito netting
- Remove sources of stagnant water
- Use scent repellent
- Increase airflow in your house
- Attract natural mosquito predators
- Use smart lighting
- Protect your body
- Seek professional help
1. Use fly screens and mosquito netting
Wherever hot and damp conditions lie, mosquitos will prosper. So the best way to stop them from making an uninvited appearance into your home is by providing a hard and fast barrier to separate them from the outside world. Maintaining a good airflow in your home is important for many reasons beyond repelling mosquitos, so don’t shut your windows completely.
Instead, invest in fly screens for your doors and windows. To control mosquito infestations in your home, opt for mesh with holes smaller than 1.2mm. Make sure they are securely fitted, and repair any holes as soon as possible, or the screens will be redundant. If having undisturbed sleep is paramount, think about securing light netting around your bed. Using netting has the added benefit of keeping out other unwanted bugs like beetles, moths and sandflies while you sleep.
2. Remove sources of stagnant water
Stagnant water is a literal breeding ground for mosquitoes, and they will surprise you with their ability to lay eggs in even the smallest pool or puddle. That’s why it’s crucial to ensure you’re draining or securing everywhere that tap or rainwater can collect or be stored, including at the bottom of rubbish bins, pet drinking bowls, paddling pools, bird baths, flower vases and in rainwater tanks. This will help keep mosquitoes away in the first place, and from increasing their numbers in your backyard.
Put your mosquito cap on and wander round your house and garden thinking like one of the bloodthirsty cretins. Make sure fixed water sources like ponds and tanks are securely covered or blocked off to insect entry. And for everything else, ensure you are regularly changing the sources of water (a few times a week) or switch to running water alternatives if you can. For example, try a water fountain, or running water bowl, as mosquitos can’t breed in these conditions.
3. Use scent repellent
Your next line of attack should be to make these critters feel as unwelcome as possible, by surrounding your home with all their least favourite smells. This particular tactic works on a wide range of different unwelcome critters, including possums. Just like possums, another incredibly pesky common household pest in Australia, mosquitos have some scents they are really not attracted to.
Cedar wood rings, anything lavender scented, eucalyptus or peppermint sprays, lemongrass, rosemary and basil plants, cinnamon, coconut and thyme oil are some ideas. These scents interfere with the mosquitoes’ senses, making it harder for them to locate sources of food… ie., your ankle. You can buy specific mosquito-targeted products with these scents, or use the raw ingredients around your home.
4. Increase airflow in your house
As we touched on above, having a good source of airflow is important not only for keeping you cool in hot weather, but also to help repel mosquitoes. For starters, mosquitoes find it hard to fly in any kind of breeze above 2 miles per hour. By bringing in a fan or two you’ll make it more difficult for them to traverse your living room in search of their next meal.
Not only this, but it’s been proven that genetics play a large part in your odds of being selected as the next delicacy on the menu. Certain compounds promise to be tastier than others, and when these are released in our sweat you’ll find more mosquitos swarming over for a taste. They’re also drawn to the carbon dioxide you exhale, so a fan will help disperse this and make you more difficult to locate. The cooler you are, the harder you’ll be for a mosquito to find.
5. Attract natural mosquito predators
Believe it or not, we are not the only species who wish to see a world with less mosquitoes. That is, some animals love to eat them, and can do all the hard work for you if you attract them into your garden.
Bird feeders that attract sparrows, swallows and song birds will help you out a great deal, and if you’re ok with bats then adding some bat houses to your garden will work a similar magic. If you do have a pond, koi, goldfish and red-eared slider turtles will also be happy to snack on mosquitoes.
6. Use smart lighting
Something as simple as the lighting choices you make in your garden can affect the mosquito population in your backyard. Yellow, LED lighting will repel mosquitos and has the added benefit of deterring other common household pests like mice and rats.
Citronella lights and candles are an old favourite, and they do work, if you can muster the scent.
UV mosquito lamps act as deadly traps that kill the insect when they come into contact with the specific wavelength. However, it’s good to know that unlike other flying pests such as moths and flies, mosquitos aren’t especially attracted to light, so turning them off won’t make a huge difference in your efforts.
7. Protect your body
When it comes to getting rid of mosquitoes, you’re stacked against an ever booming population, and try as you might to control it, there’s always a couple that ‘slip the net’ and surpass every obstacle to land on your elbow. Your last line of defence is a trusty mosquito repellent spray, especially if you’re unable to control some of these other factors.
A high quality mosquito repellent will contain a substantial amount of DEET or picaridin, and these will be clearly labelled if present. Be careful when applying around sensitive areas including your face, and it can be good practice to apply the spray before dressing or putting on shoes, as sometimes the dye in your clothing can be affected and rub off on your skin if it comes into contact with the product. You should also wear light colours such as white and blue, and in breathable fabrics like cotton and linen.
8. Seek professional help
At the end of the day, there’s nothing worse than feeling like you can’t enjoy the nice weather, or be able to step outside and spend time in your garden for fear of being bitten to pieces. Calling in professional pest control experts who are highly trained at removing unwanted specimens will ensure you minimise your encounters.
If the mosquito population in your house seems to be out of control and you’re not sure what to do about it, or you simply want to guarantee yourself to be living in a mosquito-free zone, removal services like the team at Pestline may be your best option. They can provide a thorough assessment and treatment of your home, and often with a guarantee.
The Final Word
Whilst you don’t necessarily have to take all of our recommended actions for mitigating mosquitos, the more you can install around your home, the better.
Mosquitos can turn a charming garden party into a blood-thirsty affair that leaves everyone sore and sour. If you’re fed up with the tiny things getting in the way of your plans, leave it up to the professionals, and get in contact today for a free no-obligation quote. For more mosquito or other pest-related questions, you can reach our friendly staff by email, or give us a quick call on 1300 361 646.
Struggling to get rid of other pests in your home and garden? Have a look at our other guides on pest removals in your house:
Written by Matthew Behman
As the founder of Pestline Pest Control, Matthew has over a decade of experience conquering pests in homes, gardens and in commercial settings. Matthew is dedicated to providing affordable and comprehensive pest control services to all.
