Where do basement mosquitoes come from?
Rating: 10 best mosquito repellents
Rating: 10 best mosquito repellents
Even the best spray against mosquitoes and ticks in nature does not always protect against other blood-sucking insects...
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The natural habitat of these blood-sucking insects is natural bodies of water. Huge numbers of larvae breed in streams and swamps, large puddles and roadside canals. Adults scatter throughout the area in search of food. The larvae are carried by birds and animals; they can be brought on clothing or on the seat of a car after a walk in the forest. Once settled in the basement, mosquitoes multiply exponentially and infest the homes of city residents.
Countless mosquitoes in the basement of an apartment building feel comfortable, like tourists at a Mediterranean resort, stinging pets, rats and, of course, humans. Through ventilation shafts, insects can climb from the basement into the apartment, entering it through open entrance doors and windows open in the evening. With complete confidence in their rightness, they master the free space: during the day they become quiet on the ceiling and in secluded crevices, and at night they pounce on their victims.
Residents of private houses suffer no less than city residents. The reasons for the appearance of mosquitoes in the cellar or basement of a private house are also a humid environment and the proximity of potential food sources - people and animals. Heated basements are a real incubator for little vampires. Existing leaks and water entering the cellar during rains and melting snow provoke the appearance of mold and contribute to the development of a colony.
The need to drain the basement
Mosquitoes breed in places with high humidity. Leaks in heated basements are an ideal environment for increasing the population of little vampires. The need to drain the basement, as a rule, arises not after a leak is detected, but in the case when this measure becomes not preventive, but vital.
Dampness in the basement of a private house is not only an excellent incubator for insects, but also a direct threat to the strength of the foundation and floor. High humidity is the cause of corrosion of metal parts, the occurrence of fungal mold on concrete bases and rotting of wooden structures. Good waterproofing is one of the measures to increase the service life of the structure and ways to control mosquitoes in the basement.
Drying the basement is one way to combat
Disinfestation and drainage of the basements of apartment buildings is the prerogative of local housing office services, but what to do if insects attack the basement of a private house? How to get rid of mosquitoes?
Why are blood-sucking insects dangerous?
The bite itself is not terrible - a microscopic wound and a drop of drunk blood will not cause much harm to the body. People susceptible to allergies will react more sharply: they face swelling of the face, severe itching and complications after scratching the skin. In young children, bites cause anxiety, crying, and sleep disturbances.
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The bite of a basement mosquito puts a person’s health and even life at risk if the insect is a carrier of an infection or dangerous disease. Mosquitoes are capable of transmitting fever and malaria. According to infectious disease doctors, the Russian climate is not suitable for the development of malaria infection.
Another disease that a mosquito can “reward” a person or animal is dirofilariasis, or helminthic infestation. In this case, the mosquito plays the role of an intermediary, carrying larvae of worms from the genus Dirofilaria on its legs.
Methods for controlling mosquitoes in the basement
Various methods are used to control insects:
- chemicals;
- mechanical traps;
- ultrasonic and electrical devices;
- mosquito nets;
- natural and folk remedies.
You can carry out disinfestation yourself or with the assistance of special services. Let's take a closer look at each of the methods and find out which of them is most effective in the conditions of a city apartment and a country house.
Mechanical methods
The first thing to do is to deprive mosquitoes of comfortable conditions for breeding. They are not attracted to dry, well-ventilated areas. You should carefully inspect the basement, cellar, and area around a private house. It is necessary to check the drainage system that protects from groundwater, the condition of heat and vapor barriers, eliminate leaks, clean the service premises from mold and dry them thoroughly.
People with allergies to chemicals or families with small children prefer to use homemade traps and mosquito nets. Such methods give a temporary effect and do not eliminate the root cause. There are fewer insects, but only for a while. An ordinary cracker can kill several dozen mosquitoes, but it is much more effective to use a vacuum cleaner for this purpose: with its help you can quickly collect insects.
It is necessary to eliminate all existing gaps and cracks, ensure that the doors fit tightly, and stick profile seals on them. Fine-mesh mosquito nets on windows and ventilation grilles will block the access of mosquitoes to the living space.
Chemical methods of killing mosquitoes
Repellents are used to repel bloodsuckers. These substances are good for use in open spaces - in rooms and other living spaces.
To kill insects, insecticides are used - substances that act on the nervous system of the insect. Spray or scatter the powder carefully, protecting your hands and mucous membranes.
You should find out about how to poison basement mosquitoes from specialists, or even better, to carry out a chemical attack, call a team to your home. Basically, concentrated pyrethroids, biological preparations, etc. are used to treat rooms and areas:
- Eslanadez;
- Jurax;
- Ciradon;
- Cypermethrin;
- Digital;
- Teknar;
- Dimilin;
- Larviol.
Related articles: How to choose a fumigator
Tips and recommendations: how to get rid of mosquitoes in the basement of a private house
To find out how to get rid of mosquitoes in the basement of a private house, consider the reasons for their appearance and popular baiting methods.
Blood-sucking insects are found in every climate zone, and entomologists say that mosquitoes enter the basements of houses from the external environment in search of food and suitable places to lay eggs.
Mosquitoes, like other blood-sucking mosquitoes, transmit pathogens of dangerous infectious diseases, including malaria, through their bites.
Therefore, getting rid of mosquitoes in the basement of a private house is a necessary and mandatory task.
Causes of mosquitoes in residential areas and basements
The reason for the appearance of blood-sucking insects in basements and cellars is excess water and humidity. Due to humidity, which also comes from damp places under suspended ceilings, insufficiently ventilated bathrooms and toilets, insects appear even in the living quarters of apartment buildings.
To reduce the risk of basement flooding, you should regularly check the cottage's water supply and sewer system for faults. Even in the event of an emergency rupture of a hot water pipe, mosquitoes remain in the basement.
Mosquitoes lay larvae in damp conditions in the basement. To do this, they only need a layer of water, the depth of which is 6-11 cm. There are cases when insects leave offspring in small puddles up to 2 cm deep.
Adults that have already laid larvae often fly into rooms and corridors. The reason why mosquitoes get into a person’s house is a dirty and damp staircase. From there they spread throughout the house: basements, passages, corridors, rooms.
The reasons for the appearance of mosquitoes include open access to the ventilation shaft of the house. Insects fly freely into the ventilation system. To prevent their penetration into the house, a grill with holes is installed.
Why mosquitoes are dangerous and why you should fight them
The question of whether you can get sick from a mosquito bite worries many. There is no danger in the mosquito bite itself.
The bites of these insects are more unpleasant (causing itching, redness of the skin, burning) than dangerous. The exception is people who are allergic to substances contained in insect saliva.
In this case, discomfort and itching turn into a problem requiring immediate medical attention.
The saliva of a blood-sucking insect contains complex protein structures containing substances similar in principle to anticoagulants and painkillers. The human body reacts to this as a foreign inclusion. An immune system response occurs.
Immune bodies accumulate near the site of the mosquito bite. This is how the foreign protein is neutralized.
At this moment, allergy sufferers and healthy people susceptible to the substance experience itching, possibly increased body temperature, chills, and disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
If emergency assistance is not provided to a person with an allergic reaction in time, anaphylactic shock may occur, which without emergency assistance leads to death.
A mosquito bite becomes a threat to health and life in a situation where the insect is a carrier of an infection or disease that can affect a person. Let's look at the 3 most dangerous of them.
Malaria is a disease spread by blood-sucking insects. The disease leads to severe neurological problems and other signs of irreversible damage, kidney failure, which without treatment is fatal.
In Russia, malaria mosquitoes (genus Anopheles maculipennis) live in Western Siberia and the European part of the country, and are also found in the Far East. But, according to infectious disease doctors, there is no danger in their bites, because the Russian climate is not suitable for the development of malarial plasmodium in the body of a mosquito.
Another disease transmitted by mosquitoes is West Nile fever. Mosquitoes of the Culex genus receive the virus when they bite a sick bird, and humans become infected from the mosquito.
In severe cases, the virus leads to coma and death. West Nile virus is a serious disease. Even a recovered patient often develops a complication such as chronic neurological deficit.
The disease is not widespread in Russia.
Dengue fever occurs in the subtropics and tropics - this is a suitable climate for the spread of the virus. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aëdes in the same way as the West Nile virus: from birds to insects, and then to humans. The fever is severe, with bleeding and loss of consciousness. Dengue fever epidemics occur in Southeast Asia.
Mosquito control methods
Despite the fact that cellar mosquitoes do not pose such a threat as the blood-sucking insects of tropical countries, they must be combated for the sake of cleanliness, hygiene and safety.
To combat these insects, it is first of all important to eliminate the habitat that is comfortable for them. It is necessary to eliminate all leaks in the basement of a private house, remove dirt and moisture from there. Then the room is dried and ventilated, and treated with special means to prevent the reappearance of mosquitoes.
The basement must be clean and dry. If the room is flooded, chemical treatment is prohibited because it is dangerous and ineffective. If you doubt the readiness of the premises for the next stage of insect control, you can seek advice from representatives of the sanitary and epidemiological service. The exterminator will tell you how to remove mosquitoes from the basement.
Chemicals
Effective methods of mosquito control include the elimination of larvae and adults using special chemicals.
Entomopathogenic bacteria, organophosphorus substances, regulators of the development of mosquito larvae, pyrethroids and other synthetic insecticides are suitable.
Thermal sublimation mixtures, tablets and bombs with smoke containing poison are used to bait blood-sucking insects.
Chemicals are divided into repellents and insecticides. They are used to treat basements to kill mosquitoes.
The first type of substance is suitable for repelling insects in open spaces. They can also be used at home, but with caution, because an excess of these substances provokes poisoning.
The second type of drugs - insecticides - contain pyrethroids that kill mosquitoes by affecting the nervous system of insects. Chemicals of this type are found in the form of aerosols, mixtures and powders.
They are easy to use and safe if sprayed correctly.
To work with them, a protective mask and a special suit are used to avoid contact of active substances with the skin and mucous membranes of the nose and eyes.
When treating a basement, you will need a fumigator - a simple device that sprays toxic substances into the air that kill mosquitoes. Its action is based on heating the internal element, which promotes the evaporation of the liquid insecticide. Convenient use and economical consumption of active agents are noted.
Natural and folk remedies for mosquito control
Among the effective methods of mosquito control are such folk methods as:
- tomato seedlings;
- dried Caucasian chamomile, laid out in the basement;
- cedar, anise or eucalyptus oil;
- evaporation of valerian and camphor extracts over a hot heating pad.
Since all of the listed products are organic, the smoke they evaporate is safe for human health. But you should be careful when working with them to avoid an allergic reaction.
Ultrasonic mosquito repellers
Electronic repellers based on ultrasound are suitable as a means of controlling mosquitoes.
Ultrasound machines are portable and outdoor. They can be used both indoors (basements, rooms of a private house, corridors) and outdoors - in the country, while hiking in the forest or on a summer walk. Ultrasonic mosquito repellers are considered environmentally friendly because they do not emit hazardous chemicals.
The operating principle of the device is as follows: the device sends ultrasonic signals into the external environment, the frequency of which corresponds to the sound produced by the wings of an adult male mosquito. This allows you to scare off female insects that lay eggs and bite a person.
Mechanical means of control
To exterminate insects, various traps and mosquito nets are used. You can try making a trap with your own hands at home.
Take a bowl with sliced lemon or orange. If necessary, its contents can be replaced with water with the addition of a few drops of essential oils.
The bowl is covered with plastic wrap with small holes pre-drilled in it. The resulting product can be placed in the basement or under the stairs. This simple method is suitable for small spaces.
The scent of essential oils or citrus fruits repels female mosquitoes and prevents insects from breeding.
If the accumulation of mosquitoes is localized in a room of the house or in the corridor, then a homemade trap made using a plastic bottle (1.5 l), scissors, yeast, sugar, hot water and cardboard is suitable.
The bottle is cut in half. Its lower part is filled with hot water (1 glass) with the addition of 50 g of sugar. Everything is mixed and cooled. Then yeast (1 g) is added to warm sweetened water. The remaining part of the bottle is taken and placed, neck down, in the lower part. The resulting structure is wrapped in cardboard and fixed with glue or tape.
The finished trap is installed in a dark, cool place, away from a heating radiator (in the heat the liquid will deteriorate in 1-2 hours).
Professional pest control
Disinsection of basements of cottages, private houses and summer cottages is a safe and effective method of killing mosquitoes with biological and chemical preparations.
Before the procedure, it is necessary to pack all food, polished furniture and personal hygiene products located in the room being treated in plastic bags or wrap them with film. While specialists are working to eliminate insects, these items are moved to another room.
In order to effectively treat premises without the risk of poisoning, preparations without any odor are used. Upon completion of the procedure, the basement is ventilated and subsequently disinfected.
Preventive actions
After baiting blood-sucking insects, to prevent their reappearance, you need to follow a few simple recommendations.
For preventative maintenance in the basement, you should regularly check the condition of pipes, windows and ventilation. If necessary, correct the heating problem. To effectively combat basement insects, you need to carry out general cleaning at least once every 3-4 months.
Preventing the re-infestation of mosquitoes involves checking the entire house for any accumulation of insects and their larvae. The method of draining puddles is widely used. Water is replaced in containers located on the site.
It is also important to monitor the condition of the lawn. If it is constantly overly moist, then there is a risk of mosquito larvae appearing in the grass, since any humid environment is suitable for female insects to lay eggs in it.
It is necessary to drain the basement and insulate it for the winter. As additional protection against mosquitoes, mosquito nets are installed on windows and doors.
Conclusion
Eliminating mosquitoes in the basement is a difficult task, but feasible. By choosing the appropriate method, you can forget about the problem for a long time. The main condition is to act promptly when insects are detected.
Ultrasonic repellers
Electronic repellers operating on the basis of ultrasound are used not only in enclosed spaces - basements and rooms, but also in open spaces. Ultrasonic devices do not harm humans or the environment, and only affect insects. Ultrasonic signals tuned to a specific frequency repel females. They do not approach humans and do not lay eggs. Depending on the power of the device, you can protect yourself from mosquito invasion within a radius of 2 to 10 m.
Folk remedies
Traditional methods are based on repelling mosquitoes with unpleasant aromas. Blood-sucking insects find their victims by smell: mosquito antennas contain 72 types of olfactory receptors. A third of them are sensitive to chemicals released by human or animal sweat. Applying aromatic oils to the skin or spraying aromatic oils in the air disorients the “blood hunters” and saves them from being bitten.
Some of the most unloved odors for bloodsuckers include:
- geranium scent;
- the smell of pyrethrum - a flower of the aster family;
- fumes emanating from tomato seedlings;
- essential oils of eucalyptus, valerian, cloves;
- camphor.
More often, at home, it is not the plants themselves that are used, but extracts in the form of powders or essential oils. So, for example, powder from dried pyrethrum flowers is mixed with ethyl alcohol, infused, glycerin and laundry soap are added, diluted with water and sprayed on the room.
Fighting winged aggressors in this way is quite tedious. It is much easier to use essential oils by soaking cotton balls in them and placing them in secluded places. They do not like mosquitoes and camphor smoke. Just pour a little camphor powder into a frying pan and put it on the fire. The thick, aromatic smoke is safe for humans, but insects cannot tolerate it and immediately leave the room.
Folk remedies are good only as additional measures. Effective prevention and the integrated use of chemical and mechanical methods will help you completely get rid of mosquitoes.
Popular fighting techniques
What to do in a situation where blood-sucking insects have already entered the apartment? You may find several methods useful to help you get rid of mosquitoes with maximum success rates.
- Folk remedies. If there are not too many pests, you can use the experience of many generations of compatriots. Try using powders of plants such as pyrethrum, geranium or tomato seedlings, scattered in different corners of the room. Also, excellent results can be achieved by treating with essential oils - cedar, clove, eucalyptus, etc., the smell of which mosquitoes cannot stand. You can use camphor smoke; Don't worry about the sharpness: it is harmless to humans. Such methods are harmless to health.
- There are also mechanical methods of elimination. You can get rid of bloodsucking insects in an extremely primitive way - using an ordinary fly swatter or rag. However, it is important to remember that this option is risky, since there is a possibility of contamination of the wallpaper and walls with blood that the pests have already drunk. Therefore, a much more correct solution to this problem should be considered the use of a household appliance that is found in every modern home - a vacuum cleaner.
- Special devices. These include devices that emit ultraviolet or ultrasound. Neither the first nor the second mosquitoes can be tolerated, and therefore their use can be safely considered a justified step. Today, the purchase of such a device is available to everyone who needs it. Just keep in mind that these devices are far from cheap - of course, if they meet modern quality and safety requirements.
Essential oils can be used not only to repel mosquitoes, but also as a means to soothe itching at bite sites.
