15 Things That Attracts Mosquitoes In Your Home And Yard

These insects lay their eggs in stagnant water. These include bird baths, discarded automobile tires, plastic dishes under plants, and blocked drains. Every standing water, no matter how small a puddle left on the floor can act as a breeding ground.

These immature insects turn into adult mosquitoes, which can easily invade your home and compound within record time after hatching in still waters. The containers and gutters and any other items that could hold water should be emptied and cleaned regularly, to help control mosquito breeding.

Mosquitoes especially breed in areas where they can find stagnant water such as piled hays, leaves, or grass cutting among others. Such areas tend to harbor water and many a time it is collected in forms like rain water where a mosquito is capable of laying its eggs.

Also, the organic matter in these piles can produce larvae food which is essential for the mosquitoes’ breeding. Removing yard clutter and maintaining clean areas reduces these locations for standing water and decreases mosquito breeding grounds.

These are regions where any form of water is bound to stagnate such as rainwater or water from the irrigation process; the water then forms pools that host the breeding of mosquitoes. Debris that collects on low points or clogs the drains, as well as different sections of uneven terrain, offer good breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Reducing the risk of water accumulation may be accomplished through adequate slopes and drainage systems. Controlling water drainage from your home and yard and eliminating areas where water may collect greatly decreases the propensity of mosquito breeding.

The thickets, high vegetation, and overgrown vegetation provide shade and humidity, which serve as breeding areas for mosquitoes. These areas are usually characterized by water and as well mosquitoes find it a favorable ground because it has areas that have water, yet it has no predators.

The use of well-trimmed vegetation and maintaining your yard will minimize their ideal resting places. Trimming bushes, and lawns and clearing out overgrown vegetation avoid these mosquito breeding zones thus discouraging their habitat in your compound.

Any outdoor lights especially those that emit ultraviolet light are likely to attract mosquitoes and any other insects. Mosquitoes can be attracted to light because they rely on light to locate their food sources and search for mates.

Front lights, garden lights and other bright sources of light outside the house act as a call for mosquitoes. Using yellow or LED lights, which are less able to attract mosquitoes, and installing lighting away from areas where people live outside are measures that can help reduce a mosquito’s ability to be attracted to your home.

Mosquitoes are known to be attracted by chemicals present in human sweat including lactic acid, urea, and ammonia among others. These substances are released through the skin and can indicate the availability of the next blood meal to mosquitoes.

The hotter or sweatier one gets, if one is more active or in the hot weather then the more attracted mosquitoes are to you. Avoiding heavy fragrances, proper use of insect repellents, and wearing light-colored and free-cotton clothes may help in masking these odors hence minimizing attractiveness to the mosquitoes.

Every drop of bird seed on the ground or water from the bottom of the feeder creates a small puddle that mosquitoes appreciate. Furthermore, seed hulls and other debris deposited around feeders may collect water, creating favorable conditions for breeding.

Cleaning up fresh seed leaks frequently and making sure feeding stations do not attract mosquitoes is also helpful. Regular cleaning of bird feeders and their environment while maintaining a dry area will discourage mosquitoes from using the feeders for food or laying eggs.

This is because mosquitoes are able to view dark colors in contrast with their surrounding environment better than light colors. They bite more on a dark background, meaning if you wear black or navy blue clothes, mosquitoes will notice you easily as compared to if you were wearing white.

This increases the chances of the mosquitoes seeing you and gaining access to your skin to bite you. Avoid wearing dark colored, fitted clothing, though this does not wholly protect you from the mosquitoes, it can help to a certain extent when you are going out in the evening or night.

Carbon dioxide (CO2), which people release every time they breathe, is a key trigger for mosquitoes. The CO2 attracts the mosquitoes from an orchestra as it signals to them that there is a host in the environment.

Minimizing contact with mosquitoes may mean using artificial CO2 attractants, avoiding going outside when the mosquitoes are most aggressive, or even setting up barriers such as nets or screens so as to confine the mosquitoes.

Products that come with fragrances such as lotions, shampoos, deodorants, and perfume are potential targets for these insects since they are induced by sweet or floral smells. These odors are used by mosquitoes to find the next available host to feed on.

Persistent or sweet smells on the skin may attract mosquito attention and therefore one should avoid fragranced products. Also, wearing insect repellent containing DEET or other effective repellents can assist in keeping mosquitoes away from you.

The standing water found in uncovered trash containers or in those that contain spoiled food also provides suitable breeding grounds for mosquitoes in search of food. Mosquitoes are attracted to decaying organic matter like spoils of food since these offer them food as well as places to lay their eggs.

Proper disposal of waste from the trash cans, by placing a tight cover on the cans and emptying them often, helps to minimize attraction of the mosquitoes. Maintaining cleanliness and avoiding spillages of food into bins that may also be outdoors can assist in reducing mosquito attraction and breeding.

Pet water bowls that are left outside may attract mosquitoes if the water in the bowls does not move. Female mosquitoes deposit their eggs in areas with stagnant water, and pet bowls pose as a strategic place to do so.

Storing pet bowls indoors or emptying and rinsing them often, as well as washing the bowls frequently, will make them less attractive to mosquitoes. Furthermore, mosquito larvae present in pet-water containers can be prevented by employing specially formulated pet-water larvicides.

The barrels that are used to collect rainwater and are not adequately covered may also harbor mosquitoes since mosquitoes are fond of breeding in water that does not flow. Mosquitoes deposit their eggs in stagnant water, and any object that is uncovered and left exposed could easily be a breeding site for these insects (including drums).

To avoid this make sure that rain barrels are well covered with lids or good screens to discourage mosquitoes. Emptying and cleaning rain barrels frequently is another way of reducing mosquito breeding.

Furnitures and cushion that get soaked in water also provide breeding sites to the mosquitoes. Sofas and chairs with water-repellent filling and uncoated furniture can accumulate water and become suitable for mosquito larvae.

To avoid this, always look for water accumulation in outdoor furniture and clean or dry the furniture as necessary. It is also advisable to keep the cushions indoors or use furniture covers to reduce the chances of mosquitoes breeding on them.

The adult mosquitoes looking for sugary materials may be attracted to overripe or decaying fruits on trees or on the ground. It has been observed that fungi decomposing fruits radiate a scent that attracts mosquitoes in search of food.

To reduce this attraction, one should harvest fruits before they ripen and clear any droppings on the fruits. Caring about the fruit trees and the environment where they grow is also essential to eliminate or prevent the formation of adequate breeding sites for mosquitoes. 

Mosquitoes are noted to dislike and avoid certain natural scents. While these scents may not work in repelling an infestation, they may be sufficient enough to deter some inbound mosquitoes and settle somewhere else by causing discomfort.

1. Citronella: It has a strong citrus smell that hampers human smells thereby making it difficult for the mosquitoes to find their prey.
2. Lavender: This has a natural fragrance; some of the ingredients in the scent are actually repellents to mosquitoes such as linalool. It can be applied as a restricted oil or directly planted in gardens to prevent mosquito breeding.
3. Eucalyptus oil: This oil has a cooling effect, similar to mint, and interferes with the mosquitoes’ sense of carbon dioxide and human odors. Eucalyptus has been found to be very useful, especially when it is applied in diffusers or sprays to create a natural barrier against mosquitoes.
4. Peppermint oil: With a strong mint flavor, it repels the mosquitoes due to the irritation caused on their compound eyes and also the odor confuses the mosquitoes from the other odors they are normally attracted to. It can be used directly on the skin or in sprays so as to repel mosquitoes.
5. Basil: The smell of basil is pungent and when blended with a peppery smell, is known to have volatile oils that help repel mosquitoes. The mosquito repellent effect can be achieved by planting basil plants or by using oil prepared from the plants.

You should call a professional for mosquito control when:

Infestation Persists

If you are still plagued by mosquitoes even after having maintained preventive measures then contacting a professional is advisable. He or she will be able to locate breeding sites and apply the right spray.

Health Risks Increase

We can minimize our chances of contracting the diseases by seeking the help of professionals, especially if the mosquitoes present in your area are vectors of diseases such as the West Nile virus, Zika, or malaria.

Large Property or Yard

It can be quite difficult to control these insects, especially if the area of application is a large piece of land; technicians can therefore apply wide treatments that can cover the large piece of land.

Failed DIY Methods

In cases where the DIY methods and readily available products are not effective enough, there are unique solutions and equipment that are available to the professionals.

Events and Gatherings

In open-air functions such as weddings or parties, there is a possibility that guests can be swarmed by mosquitoes; thus, hiring a pest controller can offer short-term solutions to prevent this from occurring.

To prevent mosquitoes, you should consider doing the following things:

Eliminate Standing Water

Routinely empty and wash structures such as those used for feeding birds, watering plants, and handling rainwater to avoid the breeding of mosquitoes. care should always be taken to check for any shoes of water that can support the breeding of mosquitoes as they are known to breed even in as small a quantity as a tin of water.

Use Mosquito Repellents

To deter mosquitoes when outdoors, apply insect repellents to exposed skin and clothing. Additionally, use citronella candles, mosquito coils, or other repellents in outdoor areas to keep mosquitoes at bay.

Install Screens and Seal Gaps

All windows and doors should have insect screens to prevent mosquito entry and any openings containing windows, doors, or vents should be closed tightly. This creates a hurdle that cannot allow the mosquitoes to access the interior part of the house.

Maintain Landscaping

Make sure your yard is clean from unwanted items and that the grass and the shrubs are properly trimmed. This eliminates areas that are shaded and humid, where the mosquito is most likely to thrive during the day.

Use Outdoor Fans

Place outdoor fans on patios, decks, or any area where you may be sitting to provide a wind that mosquitoes have difficulty flying in. Apart from disturbing their flying pattern, the airflow also disperses the carbon dioxide and scents that lure them.

Plant Mosquito-Repelling Plants

Use flora such as lavender, citronella, marigolds, and basil in your garden. They have smells that are unattractive to mosquitoes help in keeping the insects away from your lawn and make outdoor areas enjoyable.

Use Traps

Install mosquito traps in your backyard to eliminate the pest. These traps employ the use of some attractive items such as CO2 or light to draw the mosquitoes enabling traders to reduce their population in a particular region.