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What’s worse than knowing there’s a mosquito around you? The inability to locate it!
That irritating buzzing, combined with occasional wing flaps and the thought of them carrying some disease - don’t even get us started on the frustration! You set out on a desperate search for their hideout, but all in vain.
If you’re yet to face this, we assure you the day is closer than you think. But that’s only till you find an effective way to prevent it. And that’s why, we have come with a dozen DIY methods to help you in luring a mosquito out of hiding.
From natural ingredients to market-bought tools and even your body, we have covered it all for you to take a pick.
Now, without further ado, let’s begin!
Ways To Lure A Mosquito Out Of Hiding
To get the ball rolling, let’s talk about one of the most reliable DIY methods - the yeast trap. These pests have a natural liking for CO2 (carbon dioxide), and its high content in yeast acts as the bait for them.
To set up this trap, here are the things you will need:
- Active yeast
- Brown sugar
- 1 cup boiling water
- Plastic soda bottle
- Duct tape
- Spray paint/black construction paper
Setting The Trap
To begin with, carefully cut the empty soda bottle just below the neck area (where it flares out to meet the main section). Remove the cap from the resultant ‘neckpiece,’ and insert it into the bottom cylinder in an inverted manner, resembling a funnel.
While at it, don’t push the neck all the way down to the bottom of the cylinder. Ensure that you leave enough room to accommodate a cup of liquid and some air space. Using duct tape, secure the funnel with the bottle.
Not only does the tape hold the funnel in place, but it also seals the edges through which the mosquitoes might escape. Once done, cover the bottle using spray paint or construction paper. Leave it to dry.
Next, add about ¼ cup of brown sugar to 1 cup of boiling water. Stir thoroughly until the sugar is completely dissolved. Then, leave this solution to cool until you can comfortably stick your finger into it.
If the solution is too hot, it will kill the yeast. On the other hand, if it’s too cold, the yeast will not activate fully. So ideally, the temperature should be between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Hence we’d recommend using a cooking thermometer to keep the temperature in check.
When the solution reaches the correct temperature, gently mix in a packet of yeast and pour it down the funnel. Your yeast trap is ready! Since the trap is meant to attract mosquitoes, don’t keep it too close to your sofa or bed. Instead, place it near the outer perimeter of the rooms.
How Does It Work?
Yeast reacts with sugar to release CO2 in a process known as fermentation. The mosquitoes follow the trail of CO2 to enter the bottle and get trapped due to the sealed edges. After some time, they get fatigued and drown into the solution. If you see too many mosquitoes getting trapped, change the solution frequently to keep it effective.
Likewise, you may adjust the quantity of yeast and sugar according to your requirement.
High velocity fans can be converted into an excellent mosquito trap with a little work. While you may also use a box fan, we prefer high-velocity fans as they produce a large volume of air.
Here are the things you will need:
- High-velocity fan
- Mesh screen
- Strong magnets/plastic zip ties
- Rubbing alcohol
- Water
- Paper towel
- Spray bottle
- Scissors
Setting The Trap
Firstly, place the fan near an area that you think houses the most mosquitoes (the rear side should face that area). If there’s no power outlet there, get hold of an extension cord. Once you’re happy with the placement, take the mesh screen and cut it to match the size of the fan’s face (round metal frame).
Make sure that the holes aren’t too small for the mosquitoes to pass through. Then, wrap it tightly around the fan so that the edges of the screen overlap with the frame’s sides. Secure it firmly using magnets. If your fan doesn’t have a flat metal frame, use plastic zip ties.
On the side, add equal parts of rubbing alcohol and water in the spray bottle.
How Does It Work?
Switch on the fan at a moderate speed. As it draws air to blow out from the front, the mosquitoes also get sucked (like a vacuum cleaner) to get trapped in the mesh screen. Let the fan run for some time.
Next, turn off the fan and spray the diluted alcohol on the screen with focus on the trapped mosquitoes. The rubbing alcohol will kill them. Ensure that you don’t get anything into the motor. At the same time, drench the paper towel with the same solution and place it directly below the fan.
Very carefully, take off the mesh screen and tap it lightly, so that the mosquitoes fall on the towel. Dispose of both and wipe the fan clean with a dry cloth.
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The Beer Trap
You can also substitute the yeast and sugar solution for half a can of old beer. Several studies have shown that although mosquitoes don’t like the taste, they have a natural inclination towards the smell of alcohol.
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Increase CO2
If you are too impatient to wait for the yeast trap to work, spraying a bike inflator will get the job done rather quickly. However, you need to be extremely careful while working with it, as increased CO2 levels can cause dizziness, nausea, headaches, faster heartbeats and a lot of other health complications.
Thus, we’d not recommend employing this method in very closed spaces. Furthermore, use a mask and ventilate the area thoroughly once you get rid of the mosquitoes.
A safer method to do this would be to purchase a mosquito magnet. Modern mosquito magnets use a catalyst, which is practically a set of ceramic beads or a ceramic grid coated with platinum. This catalyst directly converts the propane to release heat and CO2 without requiring a flame.
Moreover, the octanol (a chemical that attracts mosquitoes) cartridge also intensifies the appeal. The resultant combination of gases and chemicals draws mosquitoes, who then come near the source. As they get closer, a vacuum-like fan sucks them into a net bag, where they dehydrate and die.
The biggest advantage of using a mosquito trap is that it doesn’t release any harmful byproducts, like carbon monoxide or nitrogen oxides. Besides, the lack of flame reduces the risk of fire accidents.
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The Flower Method
Besides amping up the ambiance of your room, flowers also lure mosquitoes out of their hiding. Since they love feeding on the nectar, you will notice quite a few mosquitoes around the flowers, especially at night. Buy yourself a bouquet or keep an assortment of your favorite flowers in rooms most affected by these pests.
And as we were not very confident about our ability to kill them with our bare hands, we fell back to a zapper.
Although this method may not show speedy results like the yeast trap, it’s effective nonetheless. Make sure to keep the flowers fresh or replace them as soon as they start drying out.
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Using Fragrance
Colognes and perfumes that have a floral fragrance are said to attract mosquitoes. Additionally, skincare products that contain lactic acid (which is also produced naturally by humans with sweat) are incredibly enticing for them. Pour a few drops of any such product on every nook and corner of the house to make the mosquitoes come out.
Alternatively, you can also wear your favorite perfume or put on some lotion and then walk around the areas which tend to house the most mosquitoes. In that case, remain cautious to prevent those annoying mosquito bites!
An important thing to note here is that not all fragrances are likable for mosquitoes. So, using products that smell like the following may not serve the purpose of bringing them out:
- Garlic
- Basil
- Lemongrass
- Peppermint
- Neem (also known as Azadirachta Indica, nimtree, or Indian Lilac)
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Systematic Searching
The systematic searching technique is most useful for finding (and killing) mosquitoes in confined spaces. Plus, you don’t need any fancy gadgets to accomplish the task. A flashlight, zapper, and some concentration will do the job!
In case you plan to use this method for a larger space, here’s how you can do it. Start with confining the place as much as possible. You can use moveable furniture or large cardboard boxes to do this (but keep sufficient space for you to move around). Once done, close all doors and windows, and dim the lights.
Using a flashlight, scan every inch of the wall, floor and ceiling. Blow slightly near the corners for the CO2 effect; this should bring the mosquitoes out from their hiding. Be careful not to lose focus and zap quickly as soon as you spot them.
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Light Trap
You can also implement this plan with a little alteration and without confining the space. Turn on a small light source and keep it stationary. Keep the flashlight turned off for the time being. After some time, the mosquitoes are likely to follow the light and settle on a nearby surface.
Now, slowly move the flashlight to that position while keeping focus on the mosquito. This will cast a bigger and better shadow for you to zap it away.
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The Technology Trap
The technology trap works pretty much the same way as systematic searching, where you don’t even have to get out of your bed.
Switch off the lights in your room and get cozy under the blanket. Then, increase the brightness of your phone or tablet to the maximum. Here, you can continue holding the device, or you can place it on your chest (over the blanket). The mosquitoes will definitely follow the light, come near you, or even sit on the screen.
Again, don’t lose vision on them. Keep your zapper ready and reflexes sharp to deliver that killer strike, but make sure you don’t damage the device.
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Stagnant Water
It’s a no-brainer that stagnant water is a preferable breeding ground for mosquitoes. But what if we told you that you could also use it to trap them? By adding household items to stagnant water, you can turn them into virtually death traps.
- Oil
A thin layer of oil can effectively trap mosquitoes, along with suffocating the larvae. For this, you can use any natural oil like vegetable, olive, or cinnamon oil. Moreover, you don’t need more than 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. However, don’t use it for water bodies that have fish.
- Soap
Adding a few drops of any soap to a body of stagnant water reduces its surface tension, which in turn, drowns the mosquitoes.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Sure, this all-organic substance doesn’t kill adult mosquitoes, but is potent enough to wipe off larvae when used in higher concentration.
- Bleach
Much like apple cider vinegar, bleach can be used to kill the larvae. And since it’s essentially a toxic substance, make sure that the diluted water doesn’t mix with drinking water or feed plants and animals.
Till now, we’ve seen the use of everyday objects to lure mosquitoes out of their hidings. But to be honest-nothing attracts them more than a human body. So, in the following sections, we discuss how you can use your body to form that ideal bait.
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Using Pore Secretions
Upon eating certain food, our pores secrete certain substances like salt, potassium and lactic acid that attract thirsty female mosquitoes looking for blood like no other. Crisps, salty potato snacks and soups are a few things that increase the level of salt in our body.
Similarly, sugary treats mimic the nectar-like sweetness of flowers. On the other hand, fruits like avocado and bananas are a rich source of potassium. And if you enjoy a glass of beer or two in the day, the job is already done.
If you want to employ this method, be extra cautious to avoid food that can affect your health.
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Using Body Heat
It may come as surprising for many that mosquitoes can pick up thermal sensory information even from a distance. Simply put, they are naturally fond of warmed body animals because of their blood-producing abilities. This is one of the reasons why people who feel hot to touch are more prone to mosquito bites.
Hence, increasing body temperature can effectively lure mosquitoes, and there are several ways to do that.
- Working Out
The heat, sweat and odor that your body produces after a good workout is simply irresistible for mosquitoes. But if working out per se is not quite your thing, you may even go for a run or do some heavy duty cleaning.
After you’re done, walk around the room to bring out as many mosquitoes as possible before your body temperature and breathing become normal.
- Take A Hot Shower
While taking a hot (not lukewarm) shower may not make you sweat or breathe profusely, the resultant body temperature is still good for mosquitoes to hang around. Apart from that, sitting by a fireplace or getting snuggly under a blanket will also have the same effect.
The only thing to keep in mind for this technique is that you need to bear the heat for long enough to sweat considerably. Otherwise, it won’t show any significant results.
- Assistance From A Mom-To-Be
Okay, this is us going over the top, but pregnant women are more susceptible to mosquito bites. As you may already know, frequent hot flashes are a common pregnancy symptom, thereby making them more attractive to these pests. In addition, the extra body weight during this time causes intensive breathing that makes them exhale more CO2 than usual.
So, if you have a pregnant friend or family member, it may not be a bad idea to ask them for help. However, this is a risky attempt, as mosquitoes are active carriers of many diseases. Ensure that you kill them before they can bite her to prevent any mishap.
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Wait For A Full Moon Night
Aligning your mosquito hunt with a full moon night may not sound very romantic, but will get your job done more effectively nonetheless. Several studies have proven that for unknown reasons, mosquitoes become 500% more active during a full moon than on any other day.
So, grab your zapper or mosquito magnet to pull off a (not so) fun all-nighter!
Final Words
The list was long because we didn’t want to leave out any trick from the book!
From their buzzing to the carrying of diseases, mosquitoes are every bit annoying. That’s why, it’s important to get them out of their hiding and get rid of them.
But it’s still advisable to keep them away in the first place. And the best way to achieve this is by keeping your surroundings clean. Additionally, use natural mosquito repellents and carry out regular mosquito control drives with the help of professionals. Prevention is better than cure for a reason!
On that note, it’s time for us to wrap up today’s guide. We hope that by now, you have decided on a method for your next weekend's activity. Do let us know about it in the comments down below.
Till next time, stay safe!
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