Mosquitoes are not only nuisance animals, but also carriers of dangerous diseases such as malaria, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and the zika virus. Apart from using mosquito repellent lotion, there are several ways you can trap and remove these nuisances from your home. With a little help and simple tools, you can keep mosquitoes out of your home!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Catching Mosquitoes with Lights
Step 1. Turn on only 1 light and turn off the other lights
Turn off all lights in the house except for one that is easily accessible, such as a table lamp, to catch mosquitoes flying in the room at night. Mosquitoes are most attracted to incandescent light bulbs. So, if there is, just leave such a light on.
- Mosquitoes are less attracted to warm LED light. So, try to find an LED bulb with a cool glow if you don't have an incandescent bulb at home.
- Leaving one light source will attract mosquitoes to a smaller area where you can catch them.
Step 2. Wait near the lamp and watch the mosquitoes land there
Wait for the mosquito to approach the light. The light and carbon dioxide you give off will attract mosquitoes closer. Listen for the mosquito's characteristic hum to know when the animal is approaching.
Make sure to pay attention to your whole body too. So you'll know when a mosquito lands on your skin or clothes. Make sure you don't get bitten by mosquitoes while trying to catch them. Wear long sleeves and cover your skin as much as possible
Step 3. Turn off the sound source and listen to the mosquito if you can't see it
Sit very quietly and listen to the mosquito buzzing near your head if you can't see it anywhere. Turn off other sound sources such as the TV or radio in your vicinity so that you can more easily hear the sound of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are sometimes so small that they are difficult to see. However, you can still hear the typical buzzing sound of mosquitoes.
Step 4. Pat the mosquito with your palm to kill it quickly
Use your palms to swat the mosquitoes away after these animals land. Make sure you wash your hands afterward to get rid of mosquito debris.
To increase the urge to clap, try using a roll of newspaper or magazine to swat away mosquitoes
Step 5. Catch the mosquito with a bowl if you don't want to kill it
Place the bowl over the mosquito as soon as it lands. Gently slide a piece of paper between the bowl and the surface under the mosquito so you can move it elsewhere.
Step 6. Catch the mosquito with a vacuum cleaner if you can't see where it landed
Turn on the vacuum cleaner and shake the wand in the air around you when you hear the buzzing sound of a mosquito. The vacuum cleaner will draw in the surrounding air along with the mosquitoes.
Point the vacuum at ceilings, walls and behind curtains as these are common places for mosquitoes to hide
Method 2 of 3: Making Traps with a Fan
Step 1. Place a high-speed fan on the area you want to keep mosquitoes away
Purchase a high-speed fan at a home supply store and place it in the area you want to keep mosquitoes away. While a regular fan can be used, a high-speed fan will be more effective because it can move a large volume of air, which means it has the potential to catch more mosquitoes.
You may need to use a cable connection if you want to place the fan outside to catch mosquitoes
Step 2. Attach the mosquito net in front of the fan using a magnet
Make sure the size of the mosquito net is too small for mosquitoes to pass through, then cut it to the size of a fan. Wrap the edge of the mosquito net around the front of the fan tightly so that it coincides with the entire side of the fan's metal frame. Place a strong magnet around the fan frame to keep the mosquito net in position.
If the fan frame is not metal, you can use plastic straps to keep the mosquito net in front of the fan
Step 3. Turn on the fan
Turn on the fan and watch it draw in air. When the fan draws air and then blows it forward, the mosquitoes around will be carried away so that they are trapped in the mosquito net. Keep the fan running until you are satisfied with the number of mosquitoes caught.
Most high speed fans are designed to run continuously so they are safe to leave for long periods of time. The fan motor will generally not be damaged even if it is left running like this
Step 4. Turn off the fan and spray diluted alcohol on the mosquito net
Mix the alcohol and water in equal proportions in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture towards the mosquito net, where mosquitoes are trapped. The alcohol liquid will kill the mosquitoes there.
Make sure you don't spray the alcohol solution on the fan motor. Simply point the spray bottle at the mosquito net around the fan motor
Step 5. Place a white towel on the floor then wet it with the alcohol mixture
Spray the diluted alcohol onto a white towel or kitchen paper until it's sticky. Place this towel right in front of the fan. The white color here is very important if you want to know how many mosquitoes you managed to catch.
Step 6. Remove the mosquito net and let the mosquitoes fall onto the towels
Remove the magnet or plastic fastener to remove the mosquito net from the front of the fan. Gently tap the back of the mosquito net with your hand so that the dead mosquitoes fall onto the alcohol-soaked white towel. Mosquitoes that are still alive will also die after coming into contact with the alcohol on the towel.
- You can throw mosquitoes in the trash or in the yard.
- The liquid alcohol will eventually evaporate. So you can allow mosquitoes to become food for lizards or frogs.
- Repeat the process of turning on the fan and cleaning the mosquito net as often as you need.
Method 3 of 3: Using a Plastic Bottle Filled with Bait
Step 1. Cut the top of a 2 liter plastic bottle with a knife
Use a knife to carefully cut the point where the neck and body meet. Follow this line as you will need to cut around the bottle. Hold the bottom of the bottle tightly as you cut.
- Be sure to point the blade away from your body. So if the knife slips from the bottle, you are less likely to get hurt.
- Once the top of the bottle is cut, set it aside first.
Step 2. Start making mosquito bait by dissolving brown sugar in water
Bring 1 cup (250 ml) of water to a boil in a saucepan on the stove. Once the water starts to boil, add 1/4 cup (about 60 grams) of brown sugar and remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the brown sugar solution, making sure it is completely dissolved in the water.
Step 3. Add 1 packet of dry active yeast after the sugar solution has cooled
Wait for the sugar solution to cool before adding about 7 grams of yeast. Otherwise, the high temperature will kill the yeast. Insert a cooking thermometer to make sure the sugar solution is between 50-55 degrees Celsius before you add the yeast. Once the solution reaches the desired temperature, slowly add the yeast and mix well.
- If you don't have a cooking thermometer at home, you can estimate the temperature of the solution by dipping your fingertip into it. If the temperature is comfortable for you, yeast can be added.
- Make sure the temperature of the solution is not too cold, or the yeast will inactivate.
Step 4. Pour this sugar and yeast mixture into the bottle
Hold the bottom of the bottle tightly with one hand then slowly pour in the sugar and yeast solution with the other hand.
- Ask a friend for help if you have to lift the pot with both hands.
- The mosquito bait is now ready!
Step 5. Glue the top of the bottle upside down to make a funnel
Flip the top of the bottle and then insert it into the body of the bottle to create an inlet funnel. Use duct tape to glue the top and body of the bottle together. Be sure to cover the entire point where the two meet with duct tape.
Do not insert the funnel too far into the bottle to come into contact with the bait. Leave some space between the end of the funnel and the feed liquid
Step 6. Place this trap in your desired location and watch the mosquitoes approach
You can place this trap indoors or outdoors, in a shady area. When yeast interacts with sugar, carbon dioxide is released and attracts mosquitoes. Once the mosquito flies into the funnel and approaches the bait, it will try to get out of the bottle and fly towards the inside of the bottle wall (which you have covered with duct tape). Mosquitoes will not find the small holes in the funnel and end up drowning in the bait liquid.
- If you are trying to catch mosquitoes in your yard, do not place these traps near the seating area. Mosquitoes will likely approach your body and not the trap bottle. So try to place as many traps as possible near the edges of the page.
- Consider covering the outside of the trap with black construction paper to extend the life of the sugar and yeast bait. By protecting the bait from the sun, you only need to replace it every 2 weeks.
