With the onset of the first warm days, blood-sucking insects wake up and begin to annoy residents of city apartments and country houses. Mosquitoes are especially annoying at night. They prevent you from falling asleep with their squeaking and bite people, feeding on blood. To get rid of annoying insects and to prevent them from entering the house, long-known folk methods or modern devices are used.
Ways of mosquitoes to enter an apartment
Many people believe that mosquitoes, like moths, fly indoors into the light. This opinion is wrong. Then they would constantly circle around the lamp. Mosquitoes are attracted to the heat emitted by the body of a person or animal. Blood-sucking insects pick up infrared waves and head towards their prey. They appear in the apartment mainly in the warm season.
They fly towards the light because they sense a small amount of heat from the lamp. So, they penetrate into apartments and houses. The mosquito distinguishes its food by the smell of sweat. He is attracted to lactic acid, which is one of the components of sweat secretions.
Where to begin
A beaten path for mosquitoes is open windows. In summer it is difficult to sleep with the windows closed, so cover them with mosquito nets. Products with small cells, made of stainless metal, are not affected by rain and wind. They are difficult to tear and spoil. Such protection is provided in metal-plastic windows.
If the apartment has wooden frames, measure the length and width of the window, buy an anti-mosquito net at a hardware store and nail it tightly with nails or tacks around the perimeter of the window.
To block the path of mosquitoes through the ventilation, cover it with two layers of gauze or mosquito netting. If bloodsuckers fly from the basement, the fight in the apartment will not be successful without disinsection of the infected premises. The best way out is to invite a special service to carry out sanitization. Preliminarily eliminate leaks in the basement and repair pipes.
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.
Anti-mosquito insecticides: for larvae and adults
In the range of chemical mosquito repellents you can find substances both for the destruction of adult mosquitoes and their larvae. Before you start fighting adults, destroy the larvae in nearby water bodies.
Many owners of private houses may have various bodies of water in their yard: a pond, a swimming pool, a rainwater sump. To destroy larvae in standing water, use special bacteria. They are sold in granules or tablets.
Pour the required amount of substance into the reservoir based on the volume of liquid. The drug not only kills larvae already present in the water, but also prevents the appearance of new ones within a month. Such products are safe for pets. In Russia, the production of such bacteria has not yet been established, so only products from American brands can be found on sale.
Once the larvae are destroyed, you can begin to kill adult mosquitoes. To exterminate them, you can use special chemicals based on pyrethrins or pyrethroids. The drugs are very effective, but it is very difficult to buy them without a license. As an alternative, you can use spirals or fumigators.
Why are mosquitoes dangerous?
Having smelled a person, the female mosquito starts hunting to bite. During the bite itself, some exchange of fluids occurs. The insect sucks the blood and at the same time injects a special secret into the human body that prevents human blood from clotting. Because of this, it remains in a liquid state and flows freely into the mosquito’s body. This secret is a strong irritant. This is what causes an allergic reaction.
At the site of the lesion, pain, burning, itching and other uncomfortable sensations occur that accompany a mosquito bite. Some particularly sensitive people have very severe reactions.
Important! The most common consequence of mosquito bites is allergies. It causes discomfort and a desire to scratch the bite site. Some mosquitoes carry yellow fever, malaria and various viruses.
Smoke bombs and spiral fumigators
Spirals
Used to fight bloodsuckers in small areas. They are placed near gazebos or in other places where bloodsuckers should not be. They set it on fire and are satisfied with the result. While the spiral is smoldering, insects do not fly up. The main thing is to carefully monitor the source of potential fire and place it correctly.
Spirals are made from parts of dried pyrethrum. A special perennial plant that is not tolerated by mosquitoes.
Smoke bombs
Basically, the active ingredient of most smoke bombs on the market is the same cypermethrin in different concentrations. The principle of operation is the abundant release of toxic smoke for several minutes, which settles on the surface, destroying and repelling insects. Thus, with the help of one or several checkers (depending on the size and concentration), you can treat from 50 to 500 m2 of territory.
Read more about mosquito smoke bombs in our previous article.
How to get rid of mosquitoes in an apartment
At home, the best method of control is the numerous special insect repellents sold in hardware departments of stores. The most popular of them remain fumigators of various types. But they are not able to provide complete protection. Then mosquito nets, ultrasonic devices and traditional methods are used as additional measures.
How to escape mosquitoes using folk remedies
These insects have a very good sense of smell. They fly towards an attractive aroma and rush away from a frightening odor. People use this feature to fight blood suckers. There are many smells that can drive mosquitoes out of your home.
Tomato
Tomato plants are often used to repel mosquitoes. Their scent is so unpleasant to insects that just a few plants are enough to drive away unwanted guests. Tomato bushes are placed in pots on windowsills for this purpose.
Houseplants
Plants such as myrtle, rosemary, mint, and pelargonium help fight mosquitoes in the apartment. Their green part contains aromatic oils, the evaporation of which creates an insurmountable barrier for insects. Therefore, to repel mosquitoes, simply place pots of these herbs on the windowsill. To enhance the aroma and create lasting protection, you need to regularly shake containers with plants.
Aroma lamps
If it is not possible to place indoor plants, aroma lamps will help get rid of mosquitoes in the house. The following oils cope best with attacks of blood-sucking insects:
- lavender;
- anise;
- valerian;
- geranium;
- eucalyptus;
- thyme;
- tea tree;
- camphor;
- mint.
Important! To smoothly and uniformly saturate the space with the selected aroma, the temperature of the aroma lamp is maintained at a level from +40 to +60 degrees. There is no need to fill the aroma lamp with a large amount of oil, 3-4 drops are enough. Otherwise, unpleasant phenomena such as nausea and headache are possible.
Freshly cut plants
To spread a mosquito-repellent aroma, it is not necessary to plant a mini-garden on the windowsill. Simply lay out a few fresh branches of wormwood, mint, lemon balm or basil. The leaves of thyme, lavender, cloves, walnuts or tomatoes also repel mosquitoes.
Wheatgrass decoction
In the summer, many gardeners mercilessly pull out wheatgrass. This weed may actually be beneficial. A decoction of its roots is an excellent remedy against blood-sucking insects.
To prepare the decoction, the rhizomes are thoroughly washed from the soil and chopped finely. A glass of crushed raw materials is combined with 1 liter of water and brought to a boil over low heat. When the water begins to boil, turn off the heat and wait for the broth to cool. The manipulation is repeated 2-3 more times.
The result is a highly concentrated decoction. They lubricate the face, hands and other parts of the body. This protection lasts for several hours.
Vanillin alcohol solution
To get rid of blood-sucking midges and mosquitoes, ordinary vanillin helps. It is diluted in an amount of 6 g in 100 ml of vodka or alcohol. To repel insects, liquid is applied to exposed areas of the body, including the face. The effect of such protection lasts for several hours.
Carnation
Mosquitoes do not like this plant in any form. To protect exposed areas of the skin, use a water infusion. It is prepared by pouring a small amount of boiling water over clove buds. The cooled liquid is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed on the body.
Clove oil has a similar effect. It is dripped into a small medallion and worn around the neck. For protection at night, just soak a handkerchief in aroma oil and place it at the head of the bed.
You can make a safe fumigator from lemon and clove buds. To do this, cut the fruit into two parts and stick several cloves into the pulp. This structure is placed next to the bed at night. The aroma repels mosquitoes and creates a festive atmosphere.
Valerian root
Another effective way to protect against annoying insects is a decoction of valerian rhizome. To prepare it, washed and crushed raw materials are poured with water and brought to a boil over low heat. Then, covering the dish with a lid, leave for 90 minutes. The strained broth is sprayed onto the skin.
Important! The disadvantage of this method is the increased attention of cats. To eliminate this effect, you can use wormwood or wheatgrass instead of valerian.
Balm “Star”
The well-known Vietnamese product contains many essential oils that mosquitoes do not like and has a warming effect on the skin. To protect against blood suckers, it is applied in several places on the skin. If you are allergic to this remedy, you can use any preparation containing camphor.
How to repel mosquitoes using modern methods
If you don’t want to make decoctions or plant pots of plants at home, you can use numerous modern means of combating blood-sucking insects. They are sold in a large variety in stores and pharmacies. For the most part, they create effective protection and are easy to use.
mosquito net
To protect against small blood-sucking insects, fine mesh nets are installed on windows and balcony doors. Residents of the upper floors can do without this device, since mosquitoes do not rise to such a height. For other people, such protection is mandatory. It is especially needed for those who live near bodies of water.
Usually, plastic windows already have a mosquito net. If the frames are wooden, you can make some kind of such protection yourself from a piece of gauze, securing it to the window opening with push pins or a thin strip and several nails. After the onset of cold weather, such protection is removed. In the same way, ventilation holes are protected from insects.
Important! For more reliable protection, the mosquito net is periodically sprayed with anti-mosquito aerosol.
Fumigator
With the help of this useful and reliable device, we get rid of mosquitoes in record time. The most popular fumigators are Reid, Raptor, Fumitox, and Moskitol.
A fumigator is an electrical device that heats a plate soaked in a mosquito-killing solution or evaporates the liquid from a container. After turning on the device, all insects die within half an hour. Typically, pyrethroid insecticides based on prallethrin or esbiotrin are used as active substances in the solution. The first means are safer for humans.
The switched-on device with one plate acts as protection for 8 hours. If a liquid product is used, one bottle is enough for 1.5 months of use. One device protects about 12 m2 of space. It is important not to leave the device at the head of the bed all night. It is enough to turn it on for 20 minutes so that all insects die.
Spirals
These devices are an analogue of a conventional fumigator. Moreover, it is advisable to use them in an open gazebo or in a country house where there is no access to electricity. The spirals are made of thick cardboard impregnated with insecticide. Once set on fire, the cardboard begins to slowly smolder, evaporating a substance harmful to mosquitoes. To prevent fire, the spiral is placed on a metal stand and only one end is set on fire.
Ultrasonic repellers
This device runs on regular power or batteries. The repeller emits signals similar to those emitted by male mosquitoes during times of danger. Therefore, the insects fly further. The range of such a device is small, but sufficient to protect one person.
This repeller can be installed in a children's room. It does not contain chemical components, and the signal it emits is not picked up by humans. Therefore, it is safe to use ultrasonic repellers.
Lighting devices
These devices emit ultraviolet light to attract insects. In this case, the metal grid is under tension. Insects die from contact with it.
The disadvantage of such a device is that the light does not really attract mosquitoes, which prefer to actively hunt in the dark. The heat emitted by the device is not enough to attract the attention of bloodsuckers. Such a device does not emit a sweat odor to attract mosquitoes. A light trap will be effective against butterflies, moths or flies.
Anti-mosquito bracelets
This is a very convenient accessory that protects against mosquitoes. It is a textile strip impregnated with insecticides. It is enough to simply put it on your wrist to protect yourself from the attack of bloodsuckers. The bracelet creates a small space protected from mosquitoes.
When buying an anti-mosquito bracelet, you need to choose them in sealed packaging. Otherwise, there is a high probability that the impregnation has already lost its effect. Children and sensitive people should use this device with caution. The composition of the impregnation may cause allergies.
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
Safety of mosquito repellents for children and animals
Ultrasonic devices cause the least harm to health. They do not affect children or pets in any way.
Many people believe that it is also safe to use fragrance oils. In fact, this method of protection cannot be called completely harmless. Some essential oils have a stimulating effect on the nervous system. Valerian leads domestic cats to an inadequate state. The smell of cloves or geranium is bad for children's bodies. From prolonged exposure to such an aroma, the child develops dizziness and weakness, and possible nausea or allergies.
Ultrasonic devices
Produces sound waves that repel mosquitoes. Consequently, they are afraid to approach the source of the sound. A person cannot hear ultrasound, so the device is completely safe. Advantages of using ultrasonic repellers:
- complete safety for people and pets;
- no interference with the operation of household appliances;
- noiselessness;
- ease of use;
- efficiency.
To prevent bites from itching
You can avoid unpleasant itching with the help of available remedies. Soda has proven itself to be the best antiseptic. Dilute half a teaspoon of the substance in a glass of warm water, mix and apply to the bite site. Ammonia and potassium permanganate solution also have similar effects.
If the indicated remedies are not at hand, lubricate the affected area with kefir or yogurt.
If the trouble happened in nature, apply a leaf of plantain, mint, bird cherry or parsley to the bite area.
To understand which method of struggle is better, try several methods in turn. You can buy a special device to repel mosquitoes or use traditional methods of extermination. You will achieve maximum effect if you use a couple of methods in combination.
