Discover the Best Homemade Mosquito Traps to Stay Bite Free

The sound of their buzzing and the raised bumps they leave on your skin are enough to keep you indoors. But when do mosquitoes go away? Learn about their life cycle, when they’re most active, and how to protect yourself when you do venture outdoors! Most importantly, discover the best homemade mosquito traps to stay bite-free!

How Long Do Mosquitoes Live?

How long mosquitoes live depends on the type of mosquito and the environment it’s in. However, their general life cycle includes four stages. When a female mosquito has feasted on blood, she has the sustenance she needs to lay her eggs in a safe place (like stagnant water). After incubation, the eggs become larvae. At this stage, they have a worm shape and start to feed on microorganisms. Then they transition to the pupae stage after molting. Their cocoon stage is brief — spanning one to four days. After they emerge from their cocoon, they are in their adult stage. They typically live anywhere between four days and four weeks. However, in the right environment, they can live for several months!

When Are Mosquitoes Most Active?

The summer season is when mosquitoes are most active. Specifically, they’re out and about during the early morning hours and throughout the night. These flying insects require temperatures between 50 degrees Fahrenheit and 80 degrees Fahrenheit to survive. Depending on the region where you live, you may start seeing mosquitoes as early as March and as late as November. They gravitate toward moist environments and generally avoid direct sunlight. Early mornings offer those ideal conditions they enjoy as well as overnight hours. You’re much more likely to encounter them during dawn and dusk.

When Do Mosquitoes Go Away?

When the weather shifts to unfavorable temperatures for mosquitoes, they die. Without moderate temperatures, they simply can’t survive. A sudden spike in heat or a dip in temperatures could wipe mosquitoes out. However, if the weather remains moderate throughout the summer season, these pesky insects stick around. If they don’t have a food source, they could also die prematurely. They also go away when you get rid of them yourself (or with the help of a pest control company).

How To Protect Yourself Against Mosquitoes

To keep mosquitoes at bay, you can employ several tactics. For one, use an insect repellant when heading outdoors, especially when they’re most active. It may seem counterintuitive during a summer day but wear long pants and long sleeves to protect your skin. Make sure there’s always a well-kept barrier like screen doors and screened windows to ensure they don’t get inside your home. Check for stagnant water around your property and drain it. For severe mosquito infestations, you may need to call in a pro for help!

The Best Homemade Mosquito Traps to Stay Bite-Free

Make Use of Stagnant Water

Mosquitoes are naturally attracted to stagnant water, which means you can use what you know about them against them. Set up a homemade mosquito trap to capture female mosquitoes that have already had their first blood meal. They’re looking for a place to lay their eggs and they’ll gravitate to the stagnant water trap you set up. Set up a bucket with water and add a couple of drops of soap (it can be detergent too). When female mosquitoes land, they can’t stay afloat and instead drown because of the soapy addition.

Try Combining Yeast and Sugar

For this concoction, you need:

• A two-liter plastic bottle
• Sugar
• Yeast
• Warm water

Start by cutting off the top of the plastic two-liter bottle just under its neck. Keep that piece. Put together your trap by combining one cup of warm water with four tablespoons of sugar and 1/3 teaspoon of yeast inside the larger portion of the bottle. Then, use the top part you cut off and place it back — only place it upside down this time. This way, you have a funnel. Secure it with glue or tape. The final step is to wrap the bottle in a dark cloth to create a dark inside environment. Set out your trap and watch as mosquitoes fly in — and never fly out!

Try a Box Fan

This is only convenient if you happen to have a box fan already. Make use of it and turn it into a mosquito trap! Since mosquitoes are weak flyers, wind can easily deter them. Set up your box fan to blow air away from where you’ll be hanging out. If a mosquito manages to make it to the back portion of the box fan, it quickly gets sucked in and trapped! Either way, you’re creating a mosquito-free area.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/arachi07