Most mosquito problems take place in the outdoors, whether its in the backyard, in parks, or along hiking trails in the woods. But mosquitos can make their way indoors too, which causes an additional set of headaches for families in the summertime.
In this article, we explore how mosquitoes get into houses, how long they can live indoors, and ways to get rid of mosquitoes that have entered your home.
How Are Mosquitoes Getting in My House?
Mosquitoes prefer to live near stagnant water and wet areas, which you may have around the inside of your home. Interior water features, pet water bowls, and houseplants are favorite places among mosquitoes. Mosquitos may also live around gutters that aren’t draining properly, toilets, utility sinks, laundry rooms, air coolers, and places that have become damp due to plumbing leaks.
These insects enter homes through gaps in doors and windows, which is a good reason to fix your screens and seal up gaps. Repair screens with a patch kit, place a door strip under doors where you can see light coming through, or pick up some weather stripping materials to make repairs. You can prevent mosquitoes from breeding inside your home by eliminating pooled water around your air conditioning unit and by making sure that drains are cleaned regularly and covered when possible.
How Long Do Mosquitoes Live Indoors?
In an indoor environment, mosquitoes can live for quite a while, typically about four to 30 days. The average lifespan of a mosquito is approximately two to three weeks. But a larger concern is if a female mosquito lays eggs and gives birth to baby mosquitos to cause a full-blown infestation.
Ways to Get Rid of Indoor Mosquitoes
While many homeowners use pest control sprays in the outdoors to handle mosquito problems, some people are more hesitant to use certain products indoors because of the close exposure to humans and pets. Therefore, it may be worth trying one or more natural ways to repel mosquitoes inside your home, such as citronella, lemon eucalyptus oil, lavender, cinnamon, or Greek catnip oil.
It may also help to place mosquito-repellent plants inside your home, such as marigolds, mint, or lemongrass. Other home remedies to try for interior mosquito problems include putting sliced lemons and cloves around your home and laying out a dish of soapy water to attract and kill mosquitoes. For a DIY approach, there are also mosquito zappers that are suitable for indoor use and that are typically smaller and quieter than the loud and bright devices that are used in outdoor spaces.
How Our Exterminators Can Help
However, the best way to prevent interior mosquitoes is to control them outside before they even have a chance to come indoors. Precise Termite & Pest Control offers Bergen County, Passaic County, Morris County, Sussex County, and Essex County mosquito control services and can get your outside mosquito problem under control so that you don’t even have to worry about these insects being inside your house. We can help you determine the source of your mosquito issue, safely exterminate them, and take precautions to ensure that they don’t come back again.
For a free mosquito inspection, contact Precise Termite & Pest Control at 866-971-2847 or fill out our online form. We look forward to helping you get mosquitoes off of your property and out of your life for good.