No one likes a mosquito in their home. Not only are they an annoyance, but they can also carry diseases like malaria, West Nile virus, Zika, and more. But while it’s impossible to avoid mosquitoes entirely, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a way to control them in your home. With a few easy strategies, you can keep mosquitoes from gathering in and outside your house and eliminate any mosquito problems you may already have.
Here are just a few ways to take care of the problem:
1. Fill in gaps where mosquitoes can get in
While having mosquitoes outside your house is bad enough, a mosquito infestation inside your home is a nightmare. You’ll need to be extra vigilant about not only keeping windows and screens shut tight, but also checking for any gaps that mosquitoes can get through. This includes repairing screens that have holes in them or doors that have gaps between the doorframe and the door. Buying a door strip to place around these spaces will ensure that nothing gets in.
2. Trap them
While it’s possible to keep the indoors entirely mosquito-free, it can be difficult to avoid the odd mosquito flying by while you’re outside in the backyard or on the porch enjoying a warm New Jersey summer. In order to prevent these mosquitoes from ruining a good time with family and friends, you can set out traps to stop them in their tracks. A good DIY solution should work great to ensnare and kill mosquitoes without requiring any repellant or potentially hazardous bug spray.
Using a solution of one cup each of boiled water and sugar, add another two cups of cool water to the mix. Pour in a teaspoon of active, dry yeast once the solution has cooled to approximately 90 degrees. Then pour the mixture into a half-cut bottle with one flap upside down and the other tucked into the lower half. Tape the top of the bottle up. Mosquitoes will be attracted to the sugar and yeast and get stuck in the mixture and drown.
3. Get rid of any stagnant pools of water in your yard or around your house
These standing water puddles attract female mosquitoes who want a place to lay their eggs. After about three days, these eggs will hatch into larvae. Twelve days after that, adult mosquitoes will emerge and wreak havoc on your property. Because of their two-week life cycle and the fact that each female mosquito can lay as many as 400 eggs at once, it’s easy to see why standing water puddles can quickly cause a mosquito problem to spiral out of control.
In order to prevent your home from becoming a breeding ground, you will want to frequently check for stagnant pools of water and eliminate them. This includes checking buckets, gutters, pet bowls, ditches, and any other drainage areas. You’ll also want to look in places where water can hide, such as clogged rain gutters, tree holes, and even pot holes. As it rains somewhat frequently in most of the state, you’ll want to check your property after each rainfall to eliminate any new pools that form.
4. Plant herbs and flowers that keep the pests away
Many people are reluctant to lather themselves in smelly bug spray every time they want to enjoy a night outside. Luckily, you can turn your yard into a mosquito-unfriendly zone by planting naturally mosquito-repellant plants and herbs. These include everything from lavender and marigolds to catnip, basil, and sage. Mosquitoes are repulsed by the scents that these plants give off and will avoid them. Citronella is another great plant that will mask other scents, keeping mosquitoes from being attracted to anything nearby.
5. Install yellow LED lights instead of incandescent bulbs
While light attracts mosquitoes, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to keep your house in the dark. Simply swap out your incandescent bulbs for yellow LED lights. The LED lights are less appealing to mosquitoes and will repel, not attract them as incandescent light does. These are an excellent choice for both indoor and outdoor lighting.
6. Contact a mosquito control service local to your area of New Jersey.
If you’re currently dealing with an infestation or you’re trying to keep mosquitoes away as the weather gets warmer, try using a mosquito control service. They have access to specialized equipment and will know which chemicals to use to keep your house and yard mosquito-free. Make sure to choose one that uses conventional or 100% organic treatment solutions to ensure your yard remains free from potentially toxic chemicals that can harm you or your landscape.
With these easy strategies and the help of a trustworthy mosquito control service, mosquitoes don’t have to be the annoyance they once were. Try out these tips to take back your lawn!
