How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes at Night

swarm of mosquitoes at night

It’s a warm summer night, and just as you close your eyes to fall asleep, a familiar high-pitched buzz fills the air – a dreaded mosquito attack is coming! Fending off these pests while we’re awake can be a challenge, let alone during the peaceful hours of slumber when we’re even more vulnerable. But fear not! In this article, we’ll tell you how to get rid of mosquitoes at night. 

Want to know why keeping your mosquito screens intact is vital? Read our personal experience below.

Protecting Your Indoors at Night

With the exception of a few day-biters (such as the Aedes aegypti), mosquitoes are most active at night, from dusk to dawn. But we can defend ourselves from these biting little mouths by shielding our homes.

Here is a collection of foolproof tips to safeguard your nights from those pesky bloodsuckers. So, get ready to bid farewell to mosquito bites and embrace uninterrupted, blissful sleep! 

Keeping Mosquitoes Out

worker installing mosquito net screen
Worker installing Mosquito Screen
Photo Credit: ronstik / Canva Pro / License

A vampire might be bad, but at least they cannot enter your home unless invited. Mosquitoes, on the other hand, are a type of bloodsucker that will invade your house at the first opportunity. Here is how to keep them out:

  • Mosquito screens: Install them in windows and doors so no mosquito has free access to your home.
  • Closed doors: If you don’t have a screen installed, keep doors and windows closed. Even the garage door can be an entryway for mosquitoes.
  • Air conditioning: If possible, use air conditioning to help ward off mosquitoes from your home.

Firsthand Experience: The Importance of Mosquito Screens

Maria Isabela Reis, LawnStarter writer
Maria Isabela Reis

My mom had a firm rule: no eating in the bedroom. But, like any mischievous kid, rules were more like guidelines. So, there I was, plotting to sneak in popcorn for a movie night with my friend. The only obstacle? The non-removable mosquito screens on my windows. But did that stop me? Of course not.

In a stroke of what I thought was genius, I cut a tiny hole in the screen. Just big enough to pass popcorn through — yes, one kernel at a time. As you can imagine, it was a task of Herculean patience. Hours ticked by, and our stash of popcorn inside the room grew at a glacial pace. Eventually, we abandoned our snack smuggling operation, defeated by our own impatience.

However, that small hole became a gateway for every mosquito in the vicinity. My room transformed into a buzzing haven for these unwelcome guests, and it never quite regained its mosquito-free status. The lesson I learned? Mosquito screens are a vital defense against these pesky invaders, but you must keep them intact.

Maria Isabela Reis


Make Your Home Mosquito-Proof

stagnant water in trays
Photo Credit: ThamKC / Canva Pro / License

So, what if, despite your best efforts, a pesky mosquito invades your home? In such cases, let’s guarantee your home is as inhospitable as possible for these little flies: 

  • Don’t be scared of the dark: Mosquitoes love to hide in the dark and humid corners of our homes like closets, showers, and under our sinks. Scrub and keep these areas clean and dry on a weekly basis.
  • Treat standing water: Mosquitoes can lay eggs inside your home if they find any source of stagnant water. Empty, clean, turn over, or cover any items that can accumulate water, such as vases and plant saucers. Trash cans should always be kept tightly closed as well.
  • Sleep under a net: Install mosquito nets over your bed. Some of them are even treated with permethrin, an insecticide that can kill mosquitoes and other insects. Turning a fan on can also work since the air current will keep the skeeters away from you while you sleep.
  • Indoor spraying: Use an indoor insecticide to treat areas where mosquitoes may rest. They work quickly, but will not have long-term results if not combined with these other preventive methods. Repeated applications might be necessary. 

An important note: When using foggers and aerosols, you and your pets will have to leave your home for a period of time. If you have fish tanks, cover them up so none of the chemicals get in the water. Always follow the label instructions.

A DIY tip: If you are looking for a natural mosquito repellent to spray in your home, you can make your own. Add a few drops of essential oil to a spray bottle filled with water. Shake it before you spray. Use the following substances as your home remedy, since they pose minimal risk to human health (according to the EPA):

  • Citronella oil
  • Cedar oil
  • Geranium oil
  • Peppermint oil
  • Soybean oil

Just remember that the EPA evaluated the safety risk of these oils, but there is no guarantee about their effectiveness when compared to other insect repellents.

Protecting Your Outdoors at Night

tire in yard with water inside of it
Photo Credit: ThamKC / Canva Pro / License

Now, even if your home is properly protected, your efforts might be in vain if you don’t address your yard, which can become a mosquito playground. Here’s how you can make your yard area mosquito-free.

Eliminate Standing Water Sources 

Mosquito control illustration
Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez

One of the key measures of mosquito control is eliminating any standing water source. Why is that? You may ask. Mosquitoes use stagnant water as breeding grounds. The female mosquito lays her eggs in the water, which will later hatch into larvae and will eventually become adult (biting) mosquitoes. (Note: Only females bite.)

And given the fact that most mosquitoes are weak fliers and like to hang close to their breeding site, eliminating standing water sources will reduce the mosquito population in your home’s surroundings. So remember to:

  • Clean and change the water in bird baths regularly. 
  • Unclog gutters so water doesn’t accumulate.
  • Get rid of old tires, or keep them in a sheltered place along with other toys and tools (such as buckets and wheelbarrows).
  • Keep rain barrels and trash bins properly closed.
  • Fill plant saucers with sand.
  • Drain water from outdoor furniture and pools that are not being used.

If you have any standing water sources that can’t be removed, such as fountains, ornamental ponds, or out-of-use swimming pools, you can:

  • Use larvicides to kill the mosquito larvae in the water.
  • Add mosquitofish to the water source, which will eat the mosquito larvae. 

Other Ways to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your Yard

Besides taking care of mosquito breeding grounds, there are other effective measures to prevent mosquito infestation in your yard:

  • Set mosquito traps: They are simple and effective. DIY mosquito traps can be made with materials you already have on hand and will help you protect your home from mosquitoes. A true win-win.
  • Add repellent devices: Mosquito-repellent devices for outdoor spaces can also help keep mosquitoes away while you’re enjoying your yard.
  • Change the lights: Although yellow lights are not repellents, they attract fewer mosquitoes than common “white” lights. 
  • Burn candles and coils: Place citronella candles strategically in the areas you are planning on using. Make sure you place them on a stable and non-flammable surface. Mosquito coils are another popular outdoor repellent to scare away these vampires.
  • Mosquito incense: Yes, there are incenses to scare off the bad vibes and there are incenses to scare off mosquitoes.
  • Spray hiding spots: Use a spray adulticide where adult mosquitoes like to rest: under the patio furniture, in bushes and dense vegetation, in the garage, or under the carport. Always follow the instructions on the product label. 

What to Do When Going Out at Night

But what if you’re going out? You still need protection from these opportunistic vampires. Unfortunately, wearing a crucifix won’t work. But here’s what will:

  • Use EPA-approved mosquito repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE).
  • Wear loose-fitting shirts with long sleeves and long pants.
  • Avoid strong, floral-scented perfumes and lotions. 

Why Protection From Mosquitoes is Important

test tube on a paper
Photo Credit: Jarun001 / Canva Pro / License

We all know how inconvenient the aftermath of a mosquito bite can be: red, swollen, itchy bumps that can drive us mad. But apart from avoiding an itchy bite, protecting oneself from mosquitoes is also a matter of safeguarding your health. Mosquitoes are vectors of an array of serious mosquito-borne diseases such as:

  • Dengue fever
  • Yellow fever
  • Zika virus
  • Malaria
  • West Nile virus
  • Encephalitis

Because of the number of infected people and the severity of such illnesses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers mosquitoes as one of the world’s deadliest animals. For that reason, it is only reasonable that we take every measure to keep these long-legged vampires away.

FAQ

Why Do Mosquitoes Bother me at Night?

Most mosquito species are naturally more active during nighttime, since that’s when they go searching for their next meal. They are attracted to heat and to the carbon dioxide we exhale when breathing, so they follow the trail of CO2 to find a suitable target.

Why Do Mosquitoes Like Me?

You might use floral scents, produce more lactic acid, or it can be because of your blood type. Additionally, pregnant women, for example, have warmer body temperatures and give off more carbon dioxide, both of which are attractive to mosquitoes. These individual differences might explain why mosquitoes always seem to choose you out of your friend group.

Are Bug Zappers Effective Against Mosquitoes?

Unfortunately, no. Bug zappers can work on other insects, but they are not effective against mosquitoes. 

Tired of That Buzzing in Your Ear?

If everything else fails, or if any of these tips sound like too much work for you, there is always a pro you can count on. Pest Gnome connects you to the best pest control experts in your area. Get in touch and get your peaceful, sleepy nights back!

Main Image Credit: ranplett / Canva Pro / License

Teresa Joaquim

Teresa is a creative writer who holds a Master's degree in Psychology. Despite being a nature lover, she is terrified of cockroaches. As a native of the tropics, she is used to dealing with mosquitoes, although they still manage to bother her. Her favorite things are art, music, and playing with her two cats.