How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes
Safe Ways to Control Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are, at the very least, irritating, and at the very worst, deadly.
The Culex genus (house mosquitoes) can be carriers of the West Nile virus, while the Aedes genus tends to carry yellow fever and Zika virus. They are also known to be carriers of malaria. However, the bites of mosquitoes in the U.S. generally only cause itchy bumps on the skin.
In any case, there are a few things you can do to decrease the mosquito population in and around your home.
Mosquitoes need standing water to lay their eggs in and for the larva to develop.
- Do a complete search of your yard and grounds to ensure you have no standing water. Empty containers, pots, trash cans, small ponds, birdbaths, and gutters are common areas where water can accumulate and sit for weeks to months.
- Empty out containers of water. Drill holes at the bottom of pots to promote water drainage. Store empty containers upside down to prevent the accumulation of water.
- Be sure all your gutters drain well. You would not believe how little water it takes for mosquitoes to grow and develop.
- If you have pools or containers of water that you cannot empty, add a couple of squirts of dishwashing detergent to the water. This will stop the development of the mosquitoes, and they will not develop into adults.
- Fasten a couple of sheets of fabric softener to your clothing to keep mosquitoes away when you are working in your garden or yard. You can also work in the garden or yard in clothing that has just been dried in the dryer with fabric softener. The Bounce brand of fabric softener is best because it contains oleander that can repel mosquitoes. If you live in the Deep South, consider planting some oleander bushes in the yard as part of your landscaping.
- Vick’s VapoRub or Listerine can make good homemade mosquito repellents. You can rub either on exposed skin when working in your yard, gardening, or when you’re on a camping trip.
- Lemon and eucalyptus essential oils also make a good natural mosquito repellent. Dilute a few drops in some water and apply to the skin.
8 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes
- Basil
- Catnip
- Citronella grass
- Horsemint
- Lavender
- Marigold—can also keep away gophers and moles
- Oleander
- Rosemary
Mosquito Facts
- The mosquitoes make up the family Culicidae. These insects have a pair of scaled wings, a pair of halteres, a slender body, and long legs.
- The females of most mosquito species suck blood (hematophagy) from other animals.
- Mosquito size varies but is rarely greater than 16 mm (0.6 in).
- Mosquitoes weigh about 2 to 2.5 mg and can travel up to 10 km in a night.
- They can fly continuously for 1-4 hours at up to 1-2 km/h.
- Most species are evening or nocturnal feeders (crepuscular), but some species—particularly in the Aedes genus—are active during the day.
Life Cycle
The life cycle of a mosquito has four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult—a process that was first described by the Greek philosopher Aristotle.
The total time to go through all four stages depends on the temperature and the type of mosquito, but typically, it takes about 14 days or less in warmer weather. The mosquito life cycle may take anywhere from 4 to 30 days.
Most mosquito species outside of the tropics overwinter as eggs, but a significant minority overwinter as larvae or adults. Mosquitoes of the genus Culex (a vector for St. Louis encephalitis) overwinter as mated adult females.
Laying Eggs
Female mosquitoes lay their eggs one at a time or together in rafts of over a hundred on the surface of any stagnant water. Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes do not make egg rafts but lay their eggs individually. Culex, Culiseta, and Anopheles lay their eggs on the water while Aedes lay their eggs on damp soil that is periodically flooded by water.
Most mosquito eggs hatch into larvae in about 48 hours. A female mosquito may lay a raft of eggs every third night during its lifespan if she can find enough blood to develop the eggs.
Larvae
The hatching eggs turn into larvae that live in the water, coming to the surface to breathe. As they grow, they shed or molt their skin about four times, growing larger with each molting (corresponding to the four larval stages). Most larvae stay right under the surface of the water and use siphon tubes to breathe. Anopheles larvae do not have a siphon and typically lie parallel to the water surface.
Mosquito larvae eat microorganisms and organic matter in the water. Mosquito larvae, commonly called “wigglers” or “wrigglers,” must live in the water for 7-14 days, depending on the water’s temperature. At their last molt, they may be up to 1 cm or 1/2 inch long. In each stage, larvae are at risk of being eaten by other insects or fish. Interestingly, mosquito larvae in the genus Toxorhynchites will eat other mosquito larvae of other genera.
Species and Temperature
The length of the first three stages is dependent on the species and temperature. Culex tarsalis may complete its life cycle in 14 days at 20 C (68 F) and only ten days at 25 C (77 F).
Some species have a life cycle of as little as four days, whereas, in other species, some adult females can live through the winter, laying their eggs in the spring. Many species of mosquito live their adult stage in roughly two weeks to two months. The larvae are the “wrigglers” found in puddles or water-filled containers.
Pupae
Mosquito pupae, or “tumblers,” are lighter than water and float on the surface as they transition into adulthood in about two days. The tumblers are nearly as active as the larvae but breathe through thoracic “horns” attached to the thoracic spiracles rather than through siphons.
Adults (Imago)
The newly emerged adult must rest on the surface of the water for a short time to allow itself to dry and all its parts to harden before it can fly. This requires still water and is one reason mosquitoes don’t grow in fountains or fast-moving water.
Most mosquitoes stay fairly close to the ground and do not range too far from where they were born but may be dispersed long distances by wind. Mosquitoes are not strong flyers, reaching only 1-2 km/h (1-1.5 mph), and an electric fan may make an effective mosquito screen. They feed mostly in the early mornings and late evenings, and occasionally at night, avoiding the heat of the day. During the day they usually find somewhere cool to land.
Differences Between Male and Female Mosquitoes
Only female mosquitoes bite animals to get the blood needed to produce eggs. Male mosquitoes do not bite, but both the male and female feed on the nectar of flowers for food. In most female mosquitoes, the mouthparts form a long proboscis for piercing the skin of birds, mammals, or even reptiles and amphibians to suck their blood.
Male mosquitoes are distinctly smaller than females, with features such as feathered antennae and having no audible sound during flight. Female mosquitoes emit a distinctive, high-pitched buzz during flight, which can interrupt sleep.
As opposed to a syringe’s typically smooth needle, the mosquito proboscis is highly serrated, which leaves a minimal number of points of contact with the skin being pierced. This reduces nerve stimulation to the point where the bite is typically not felt at all. Females require protein for egg development and laying, and since the normal mosquito diet consists of nectar and fruit juice—mostly carbohydrates and no protein—most females must drink blood to lay eggs.
How Do Mosquitoes Find You?
Female mosquitoes locate their next blood donor primarily through scent. They are extremely sensitive to the carbon dioxide (CO2) in exhaled breath, in addition to several substances found in sweat and various body odors. They are believed to be able to track potential prey for tens of meters. Some people attract more mosquitoes than others, apparently, based on how they “smell” to a mosquito. Mosquitoes can also detect heat, so they can find warm-blooded mammals and birds very easily once they get close enough.
Repellents like DEET work by disorienting the mosquito as it gets close to its potential next meal, but they do not kill mosquitoes. Surprisingly, this works about 95% of the time.
Further Reading
- How to Make Homemade Organic Mosquito Yard Spray
When you are out in the yard, and you don’t want to get bit by mosquitoes, this organic yard spray (which is safe for humans and plants) may be the solution for you.