HOW TO HELP GET RID OF MOSQUITOES
Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance—they can also spread disease and leave you with itchy bites. Find out how to help kill mosquitoes and keep these tiny bloodsuckers away from you and your loved ones.
It’s virtually impossible to completely mosquito-proof your home. But there are some easy ways to help get rid of mosquitoes and protect your family from these biting pests.
HOW LONG DO MOSQUITOES LIVE?
Female mosquitoes typically live for a few weeks and males only live for about one week. However, the average lifespan of a mosquito varies based on the species, as well as the temperature, humidity, and time of year.1
HOW TO KEEP MOSQUITOES AWAY OUTSIDE2
Mosquitoes can lay eggs in as little as a teaspoon of water3—an amount that can be easily collected in a plant saucer or even a bottle cap. That’s why addressing sources of standing water around your home is so important to help get rid of mosquitoes.
Empty any items that can hold water once a week. This includes items like tires, buckets, planters, toys, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers, and trash containers. You can also turn over, cover, or drill holes in these items to help prevent water from collecting.
Change the water in your birdbath at least once a week.
If you have a fishpond, be sure the filter operates efficiently to keep the water moving.
Remove leaves and debris from gutters to ensure water flows freely.
Cover water storage containers tightly so mosquitoes can’t get inside to lay their eggs.
Cut back vegetation to help reduce shady areas around your home where mosquitoes like to hide away from direct sun.
WHAT ATTRACTS MOSQUITOES?
When mosquitoes are looking for a blood meal, they’re attracted to perspiration, body heat, and the carbon dioxide given off by your breath. When they’re looking for a place to lay their eggs, they’re attracted to areas with stagnant water.
KEEP MOSQUITOES OUT
To help keep mosquitoes outside where they belong, make sure you have screens on all doors and windows. When entering or leaving your home, close the door quickly to make it harder for these tiny bloodsuckers to sneak inside. And remember, damaged screens are an open invitation for mosquitoes to come inside and make themselves at home. So be sure to patch any holes in your screens promptly.
HOW TO KILL MOSQUITOES IN YOUR HOUSE
If pesky mosquitoes do make their way inside, it’s time to take quick action. To help kill mosquitoes inside the house, use a liquid electric or aerosol spray. Be sure to follow all instructions on the label and reapply as directed.
FIND MOSQUITO HANGOUTS
Mosquitoes inside the home often rest in dark, humid places. So, when using an indoor insect spray, be sure to treat their favorite resting places, including under the sink, in the closets, under furniture, behind drapery, and in the laundry room.
HOW TO HELP KEEP MOSQUITOES AWAY WHILE YOU SLEEP
Waking up full of itchy mosquito bites is no fun for anyone. But in areas where malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases are common, it can be downright dangerous. To help protect your family from bites while you sleep, use liquid electrics, electric mats, or insecticide products labeled for killing mosquitoes. You can also place mosquito netting over all beds and cribs to help keep these biting bugs out.
WE GIVE MOSQUITOES A HOME SO THEY DON’T INVADE YOURS
On any given day, our entomology labis home to 360,000 mosquitoes. We breed them, study them, and develop new products and tips to help you get rid of them.
FIND SOLUTIONS FOR MOSQUITOES
We have a variety of products designed to help you kill mosquitoes and keep them away from yourself and your loved ones.
