Where Do Mosquitoes Hide in a Room?
Mosquitoes have various preferences when finding somewhere to hide in our room. They most prefer dark corners, behind furniture and in the folds of curtains. To avoid them, use mosquito nets, insecticides and keep the room clean and free of stagnant water. Mosquitoes have a developed sense of smell to identify their potential host and bite them. These bites can transmit diseases, such as malaria, dengue, West Nile Virus or malaria.
At oneHOWTO, we explain where do mosquitoes hide in a room? Whether it is a bedroom, living room or any room, we not only discover where mosquitoes like to hang out, but we help you to make it as unpleasant a place for them as possible and get rid of them.
Places where mosquitoes hide in a room
Mosquitoes can hide almost anywhere, both inside and outside the home. However, they have certain preferences. Specifically, they tend to prefer damp and dark areas of a room. These include curtains, bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, behind doors and under furniture. They are also known to hide among some plants, especially if they have stagnant water in their pot. They can remain in the pots or between the leaves of the same plant.
Although it is true that plants are ideal for purifying the air in the home and producing oxygen, they must be cared for and given attention so that they do not end up with stagnant water. These insects can also hide in water containers such as glasses, buckets, trash cans, pet water bowls, puddles or any container where water accumulates.
One place which may seem like the last place a mosquito might hide in a room is in children's toys. Toys are often stored in cool and dark places. For this reason, we must not overlook them. Mosquitoes can even deposit their eggs in these toys, making them breeding grounds for the blood-scuking insects. Often, toys are left alone for prolonged periods, meaning it is good to check them regularly, even if they haven't been used in a long time.
If you have a garden, terrace or similar open space, you probably have plastic tarps. These are also used to cover certain objects. Unfortunately, mosquitoes can collect underneath them. If water pools in them, mosquitoes can even collect in the top. It is useful to clean them after it rains and air them out regularly.
With this in mind, mosquitoes can hide in the following places in a room:
Curtains
- Behind furniture
- Under the bed
- Buckets
- Closets
- Behind picture frames
- Houseplants
- Ceiling corners
- Dark corners
- Storage boxes
- Bathroom
- Laundry piles
- Behind doors
- Lampshades
- Window sills
- Toys
- Bookshelves
- Air vents
- Tarps
- Drapes
- Under rugs
- Cracks and crevices
- Wall hangings
If you want to learn more about these insects, take a look at our article on how long do mosquito bites last?
How to prevent mosquitoes from hiding in a room
To prevent mosquitoes from hiding in a room, we recommend the following:
- Remove or cover water containers: observe if there are any containers with accumulated water, such as flower pots, buckets, pet water bowls or others that could serve as breeding sites. If you find one, remove it or cover it so a mosquito cannot enter.
- Keep the room clean: try to avoid the presence of objects that are attractive to mosquitoes. It is important to avoid having dirty clothes, trash or any accumulated junk where mosquitoes can hide in a room.
- Stop them entering: seal cracks in walls, windows, doors or any holes through which mosquitoes can enter. We recommend using mosquito nets on doors and windows. Learn more about the different types of mosquito nets.
- Control the humidity of the room: it is advisable to keep it below 50%, since humid environments are ideal for these insects to proliferate.
- Mosquito traps: use sticky traps or light traps which attract and trap mosquitoes.
- Mosquito repellents: use repellents in the room, such as diffusers, candles or electronic devices.
- Sprays: it never hurts to have insecticides at home to kill them directly when you see them.
- Lighting: turn off the lights when possible so that mosquitoes are not attracted to them.
- Temperature: use fans to cool the room.
Some plants can act as natural mosquito repellents. One of the most common is citronella which also provides a pleasant aroma to the room. Learn more with our article asking does citronella really repel mosquitoes?
How to eliminate mosquitoes from a room
If there is a proliferation of mosquitoes in a room, eliminate them immediately to stop them laying eggs. Deferring this can lead to a serious infestation which will be even more difficult to get rid of. There are various techniques you can use to eliminate them, but one of the most effective is by making a homemade trap. To make your own DIY mosquito trap, you will need to do the following:
- Take a wide container and fill it with water.
- Add a little sugar and a good few drops of liquid soap.
- Place it in areas where there are more mosquitoes.
- Mosquitoes will approach because of the sweetness, but will be trapped by the soap.
The reason why mosquitoes are trapped by the soap is due to surface tension on the water. The mosquito lands on the water expecting to be able to stay on top, but the soap causes them to drop below the waterline and drown.
You will also be able to eliminate some mosquitoes with a vacuum cleaner. If the vacuum cleaner is strong enough, you can suck them up directly. This won't necessarily kill them, so you will need to clear out the bag in a suitable place to dispose of them, usually outside. Drafts created by standing or ceiling fans also drive them away.
Finally, the alternatives that never fail to eliminate mosquitoes are using repellents, electric diffusers or sprays. In severe cases, and as a last option, use aerosol insecticides. You can even make your own homemade insecticide for mosquitoes.
Now that you know where mosquitoes hide in a room and how you can get rid of them, don't miss these article on how to clean a mosquito screen.
If you want to read similar articles to Where Do Mosquitoes Hide in a Room?, we recommend you visit our Maintenance and home security category.
