How to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your Home for Good, Pest Pros Say

Mosquitoes thrive in the summertime already, and the last thing you need is them buzzing into your home. Don’t worry, even if they fly into your house, there’s a go-to trick to capture these blood-sucking pests inside.

We asked entomologists and pest control experts for their best ways for capturing these pests and tips on how to prevent them from breeding in the first place; here’s what they had to say.

The Best Trick for Capturing Mosquitoes

Experts recommend using a carbon dioxide (CO2) trap, which releases the same compound humans exhale, mimicking human breath. This works because mosquitoes look for CO2 when searching for human hosts on which to feed.

“Since mosquitoes are drawn to CO2, they’re lured in and then trapped or zapped,” says Jason Napolski, president of A-Tex Pest Management.

Some commercial CO2 traps use yeast or dry ice as a bait to produce the necessary carbon dioxide, but you can also make a DIY mosquito trap by putting a yeast, water, and sugar mixture into a plastic bottle. It will generate CO2 to attract mosquitoes into a bottle, where they won’t be able to escape.

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3 Other Tricks for Capturing Mosquitoes

Getting rid of mosquitoes isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, so we asked our experts for some more tricks they use. Combine any number of these solutions to see what works best for your problem.

Box Fan Trap

The second most-suggested method from experts is the box fan trap. This involves attaching mesh or a type of netting to a standard box fan and placing it where the mosquitoes have been most active.

“The fan pulls mosquitoes in with its airflow, and they get stuck on the mesh,” Napolski says. “It works best because mosquitoes are weak fliers, and this mechanical method doesn’t rely on chemicals. It’s also safe, quiet, and most effective when placed near standing water or where people gather.”

Oviposition Traps

This type of trap specifically targets female mosquitoes looking to lay their eggs in water and disrupt the breeding cycle. Entomologist Louisa Messenger recommends using an infusion of hay and grass, soaking it for a week to ferment.

“This mimics the type of water that mosquitoes will be looking for to lay her eggs in,” she says, noting the trap should be placed where you see adult mosquitoes flying around.

UV Light Traps

Just like other flies and other pests, mosquitoes are also attracted to light and UV light traps can be useful to catch some of them. However, Napolski makes this recommendation with a caveat that it’s not always effective for all mosquito species.

“I have noticed people often focus on repellents or zappers alone, but the key is interruption of the breeding cycle and maintaining good environmental hygiene,” he says.

4 Tips for Keeping Mosquitoes Out of Your Home

Experts agree that one of the best methods to keep mosquitoes out of your house is preventing them from breeding on and around it. Entomologist Daniel Harris had these tips for making sure these pests stay out of the home.

• Remove all standing water. These puddles can attract female mosquitoes looking to lay their eggs. “Damaged or improperly installed gutters or drainage that has clogged, even partially, can create a protected breeding site that mosquitoes will continually visit throughout the year,” Harris says.
• Cut back or get rid of unnecessary vegetation. This can provide mosquitoes with unintended breeding and rest areas.
• Use screen windows and doors. It will help prevent mosquitoes from flying into your home through any open areas.
• Using yellow bug light bulbs. These bulbs use a yellow light that is less attractive to mosquitoes and other flying insects and will keep them away from your house.