How to Control Mosquitoes Inside of Your Home

Read on for some of the best long-term solutions for dealing with mosquitos in Arizona.

This blog will consider the following:

What Attracts Mosquitoes to Your Home?

Mosquitoes don’t appear in random spots, simply biting everything in sight (as much as our skin might say otherwise). Mosquitoes are attracted explicitly to heat, scents, moisture, and colors.

Some of the most common things that attract mosquitoes in the house include:

  • Body Heat: Mosquitoes feed on blood, and body heat is how to find it, whether human or animal.
  • Sweat: Typically a byproduct of body heat, sweat draws mosquitoes by its scent. Studies have shown that substances such as alcohol increase your body temperature and the attractiveness of your sweat to mosquitoes – so beware.
  • Clothing: Mosquitoes especially fly toward brightly colored clothing for food or moisture. The quality of clothing doesn’t particularly matter; even darker colors won’t keep you safe from catching their attention.
  • Nectar, Cologne, and Sugar: While mosquitoes primarily drink blood, they also consume nectar and are drawn toward sugary sources.
  • Standing Water: Mosquitoes breed and lay their eggs in standing water, ready to multiply and only make matters worse for you and your household. Removing any leaks or standing water in the home can prevent it from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Where Do Mosquitoes Lay Their Eggs in a House?

Mosquitoes prefer laying eggs in dark, humid places. If mosquitoes lay eggs in a house, they will likely choose spots like under kitchen and bathroom sinks, showers, closets, underneath furniture, and in the laundry room. Along with these targeted spots, mosquitoes are searching for a place to lay their eggs safe from predators, accessible to a food source, and shaded from sunlight.

How Long Do Mosquitoes Live Inside A House?

It takes 8 to 10 days to develop from an egg into an adult mosquito. The average lifespan of a mosquito living outdoors is two to three weeks. Once indoors, a mosquito can survive for up to a month. Their longer lifespan indoors is due to being more protected from risk factors such as predators, sunlight, and a lack of food.

How to Control Mosquitoes in Your Home

Because mosquitoes are attracted to certain things that we cannot eliminate (such as body heat), knowing how to deal with mosquitoes invading your home is crucial. 

Some of the best ways to deter mosquitoes in your house include:

  • Use netting, screens, or sealant to prevent entrance to your house (cover unsealed air conditioning vents, window screens, etc.)
  • Use bug zappers and traps to kill mosquitoes before they get near your home.
  • Keep mosquito-repellent plants indoors, such as marigolds, lemongrass, or mint.
  • Lemons and cloves work as a natural mosquito repellent.
  • Check and clean your vents, drains, and other contained areas to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home and breeding.

What are the Best Ways to Remove Mosquitos?

We all know even one mosquito is just too many. Once you have a bite or notice any crowding around your lights or sources of water, it’s time to take action.

Here are some of the best ways to remove mosquitoes from your home:

  • Set out a dish of soapy water: mosquitos will sit on it and eventually die from the exposure.
  • Use body-spray repellent: Applying chemical-based sprays to yourself may not smell great, but it is an effective short-term solution for preventing bites.
  • Mosquito traps: There are traps you can purchase or traps you can make yourself that are mildly effective and work best as a secondary solution.
  • Oscillating fans: Mosquitoes struggle to fly against the wind – fans do well to imitate that. This isn’t the most efficient or sustainable solution for a widespread mosquito problem, but it will work in a pinch.
  • Scented candles, essential oils, diffusers, etc.: Lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, or even garlic are scents known used for repelling mosquitoes.

These home remedies help deter mosquitoes and may work well for you and your family. However, if you are running into many mosquitoes swarming your house, you’ll need to contact your trusted professional pest control technician for extermination services.

Published On: October 8, 2021
Updated On: April 7, 2023

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