Mosquitoes are very insidious and dangerous creatures. In addition to the fact that they bite painfully, they also spread various viral diseases and are dangerous to human life. There are about 35 thousand species of these parasites, 6% of which drink human blood. But even these six percent create a lot of problems for us, especially if they started their hunt at night, and prevent us from falling asleep.
How to kill mosquitoes at home, at night, when you are almost falling asleep and don’t want to disturb your household? The situation is very unpleasant, because the mosquito has disturbed your sleep, bitten you painfully, and even the site of the bite itches. And if there are small children in the house, then night bites can be a serious problem, because the child cannot sleep, cries, and in the morning all exposed parts of the body are swollen and red. This is the best case scenario if the child does not have allergies. We hope you find our tips on how to properly kill a mosquito helpful.
How to get rid of an annoying mosquito?
Those who did not manage to fall asleep in the evening before the buzzing bloodsucker appeared will agree that mosquitoes have now become much smarter. Previously, it was enough to turn on the light sharply and slam him while he was drinking blood. Now, in the light, the insect quickly disappears, rushes chaotically around the room, and it becomes impossible to quickly catch a mosquito.
Today's mosquitoes enter the room in the dark and fly to the source of increased temperature, not only through the windows, but also with the help of ventilation. Some “victims” claim that these creatures even “climb” to the ninth floor in the elevator!
There are such ways to find a mosquito in a dark room:
- attract him with light;
- remove with a vacuum cleaner;
- attract with a flashlight;
- become bait for him;
- kill on the wall;
- catch in a glass.
Each of the options is worthy of attention.
Modern methods of mosquito control
There are several effective and fairly simple ways to control mosquitoes in an apartment. Let's look at each of them.
Mosquito net
To protect your home from bloodsuckers, place fine mesh mosquito nets on your windows and balcony doors. If mosquitoes do not reach the upper floors (9-12), then the remaining residents will hardly be able to do without these devices. The method is also relevant for houses or apartments located near sewers, basements and ponds.
Typically, mosquito nets come with plastic windows. If you have wooden frames, try making them yourself. To do this you will need a piece of gauze, 4 thin strips and several push pins or small nails. With the onset of winter, it is better to remove such protection. The ventilation holes also need to be covered with gauze - it is through this loophole that mosquitoes most often enter the room.
Anti-mosquito nets on windows and balcony doors will protect you from mosquitoes even when the window or balcony is open
Advice! To be safe, spray the mesh with anti-mosquito spray or aerosol.
Fumigators
A fumigator (from Latin fumigo - “I smoke”, “I fumigate”) is a very reliable tool that allows you to get rid of insects in record time. The most popular ones include Raptor, Raid, Mosquitoll, Fumitox and Picnic Family.
Together with the device, the kit includes several plates or a container with insecticidal liquid. When the device is turned on, they release special substances into the air that kill gnats, flies and mosquitoes within half an hour. Most often, fumigators are based on pyrethroid insecticides - esbiotrin and prallethrin (a synthetic analogue of Dalmatian chamomile extract). Experts recommend giving preference to the latter option - it is safer.
The duration of the plate is from 8 to 15 hours. A fumigator with a liquid insecticide has a longer action - up to 45 nights. Approximate area – 12 sq. m.
For all its effectiveness, a fumigator can be dangerous! Unfortunately, not everyone uses it in accordance with the instructions. Many people leave the device turned on all night almost at the head of their head - this should not be done!
How to use such tools correctly? The device is plugged into the outlet for about 20 minutes, leaving the window open. There should be no people, their pets, or children in the room at this time! Also remember that fumigators are completely contraindicated for respiratory diseases. At the end of the period, the device is unplugged from the outlet, the room is well ventilated and the window is closed.
Advice! Do not use records left over from last year - they are unlikely to help you. If the fumigator liquid has run out and there is no way to buy a new one, replace it with eucalyptus extract.
Spirals
Of course, one can argue about the advisability of using spirals in an apartment, because they are more suitable for a summer house or gazebo. mosquito coils work on the same principle as fumigators. They contain an insecticide that is released into the air while the device is smoldering. To prevent fire, place the spiral on a metal surface and set fire to only one edge.
Mosquito coil - operating principle, description and tips for use, read more in this article.
Ultrasonic repeller
An ultrasonic mosquito repeller is a small device that runs on mains or batteries. The principle of operation of the device is to emit a signal similar to the sounds that males make in case of danger. As a result, mosquitoes fly away.
The range of the device depends on the strength of the signal it emits. But even the weakest repellers can create a large zone that the bloodsuckers won’t even get close to.
On a note! The human ear is not able to detect ultrasonic signals, so a person will not experience discomfort. In addition, the repeller contains no chemical components - it can be safely installed in bedrooms and children's rooms.
As for repellent sprays, creams and ointments, they are designed to protect against mosquitoes in nature and are not always suitable for daily use. And their validity period is only 2-3 hours - it’s unlikely that anyone will want to wake up several times a night to reapply the cream.
Tips to help you get rid of mosquitoes:
Traditional methods of getting rid of mosquitoes
Along with modern mosquito repellents, there are a huge number of natural remedies to combat these insects. The use of these methods is especially important when there is a small child, a pregnant woman, or pets in the house.
The most common are the following folk methods.
- Decoctions with the addition of various herbs and essential oils. Mosquitoes in an apartment cannot tolerate the smell of plants such as vanilla, cloves, and wheatgrass root. A decoction prepared from one of these plants can be lubricated on exposed skin - it is excellent against mosquitoes. Such a drug will certainly drive away unwanted insects.
- Vanilla can also be added to baby cream and safely used for the care and protection of children.
- The aroma of vinegar will easily drive away mosquitoes. It must be mixed with water in a 1:1 ratio and you can wipe the skin. After a few minutes, the aroma will no longer be felt by people, but will remain very unpleasant for mosquitoes.
- You can also evaporate valerian, 100% eucalyptus extract, cedar and camphor oil in a water bath.
- It is permissible to add essential oils to the aroma lamp. Oil extracts of clove, anise and tea tree are excellent.
- Scented oils can also be applied to light bulbs.
- Also, mosquitoes in the apartment will not be able to tolerate the presence of basil leaves or tobacco.
- You can plant tomatoes or geraniums on the window. Another option for using flowers is to place a bouquet of lilacs or bird cherry in the room.
- Garlic is no less effective in fighting mosquitoes, but due to its strong smell, not everyone is ready to use it. Just chop a couple of cloves of garlic and put it on the windowsill - a good night is guaranteed.
In the fight against mosquitoes, you can use improvised means. For example, prepare a spray at home. It will be a natural product without chemicals. To prepare you will need:
- 2 tbsp. l. vodka;
- 25 drops of essential oil with any repellent scent;
- 2 tbsp. l. vegetable oil;
- 1 tbsp. l. aloe juice
In a spray bottle, mix vodka with essential oil with a few vigorous movements. Then add vegetable oil and aloe, mix again with shaking movements. Before applying the spray to the skin, you need to check for an allergic reaction. To do this, spray a little cream on a small area (usually the wrist). If no changes have occurred after 5 minutes, the product can be sprayed onto the entire body.
Cloves are an effective folk remedy that repels mosquitoes. The easiest way is to add the spice to half a lemon and leave overnight. You can prepare a decoction and use it as a spray. To do this, boil dried carnation flowers in water for 20 minutes.
Vanillin helps avoid mosquito bites in nature. Not to be confused with vanilla sugar. The fragrant substance has a bitter taste and a specific odor. The difference between vanillin and sugar is that it repels insects, while sugar, on the contrary, attracts them. The product can be used in the form of a solution or cream and prepared independently.
To prepare the solution you will need 1 liter of water and 2-3 tsp. vanillin. You need to mix the substance with water and use it as a spray. To turn an ordinary cream into a homemade mosquito repellent, add 1 g of vanillin to 10 g of product and apply to exposed areas of the body.
Vanillin is a reliable protection against insects, does not cause allergies or itching, and is safe for children. The disadvantage of this remedy is its short duration of action - no more than 30 minutes. Then the procedure will have to be repeated.
Folk remedies are safe assistants in the question of how to get rid of mosquitoes at any time of the day. But even natural remedies have contraindications. Basically, this is an individual intolerance to one of the ingredients. Before using any product, you should always test the reaction on a small area of skin.
Household chemicals
Mosquitoes are extremely annoying and pestering creatures. You can meet them in a living space at any time of the day, in winter, autumn, and especially in summer. An interesting fact for the joy of all misogynists: only females drink our blood - males adhere to vegetarianism, preferring flower nectar.
To combat them, the chemical industry is inventing more and more new means every day: all kinds of aerosols, creams, ointments and sprays containing insecticides - substances that repel bloodsuckers. Their main disadvantage is their possible allergy.
In addition, it is not always pleasant to apply these products to the skin, and in the summer it is sometimes simply inconvenient. Entire houses can be protected from attacks by bloodsuckers, for example, with the help of fumigators, plates and ultrasonic equipment.
What attracts mosquitoes to your home?
It will be more effective not only to exterminate insects in the apartment, but also to block the path of their penetration.
- Moisture. Bloodsuckers are crazy about moisture. Ask any fisherman, he will tell you about hordes of mosquitoes near water bodies. And if pipes are leaking in the basement, then residents of the entire entrance, especially the lower floors, will have to fight off midges and mosquitoes.
- Window. Insects can smell human blood and sweat from tens of meters away. Through a crack in the window, more than a dozen bloodsuckers can fly into the room, but in the summer it is impossible to sleep with clogged sashes.
A few more tips
Now you know how to get rid of mosquitoes in an apartment. There are still a few important points left to figure out:
- When selecting mosquito repellents, follow an individual approach. Preparations for children, pregnant women and lactating women should not contain toxic components;
- When using repellents, do not forget to regularly ventilate your apartment;
- If an allergic reaction occurs, consult a doctor immediately (Allergy to mosquito bites: symptoms and treatment methods, read more in the article here).
See also: A folk recipe that will 100% rid you of mosquitoes (video)
Review of the best mosquito repellents
Types of mosquitoes
In addition to ordinary mosquitoes that feed on human blood, there are other species of this insect. Some prefer the blood of animals and birds. Others do not bite anyone, but eat plant foods.
Common blood-sucking mosquitoes belong to the family Culicidae. They are usually found near human habitats. These insects come in any color as they adapt to their surroundings.
Mosquitoes from the family Tipulidae are distinguished from others by their particularly long legs. They usually hover in the air for a long time, motionless. They can often be seen under the ceiling, where warm air accumulates. Due to their terrifying appearance, such mosquitoes are mistaken for malaria. But in reality, these insects are harmless. They do not feed on blood, but prefer nectar, plant roots or dew.
The most dangerous mosquitoes, which are the source of the spread of many diseases, are mosquitoes. They live in warm countries in Africa or Asia, in a subtropical climate. These insects are not found in our country.
Midges living in the vicinity of water bodies belong to a subspecies of mosquitoes. They bite very painfully. The bloodworm or bell mosquito is also known. These insects are not dangerous because they do not attack anyone.
