Until I came to live in Florida I had never heard about mosquito traps. I knew about mouse traps and fly traps, as everybody does, but mosquito traps were new for me. And of course it was only when I moved to Florida and experienced mosquitoes in the swamps, humidity and after a hurricane, did I realize what an enormous problem they could be.
Mosquitoes breed in swamps and they breed like crazy after a hurricane, in both still and stagnant water but also in flowing water. This is why there are such huge outbreaks after a hurricane.
Why Use a Mosquito Trap
So, there are mosquito traps! And because there are over 77 different types of mosquitoes in the state of Florida, some of which can be dangerous, it is a good idea to know how to use the traps and how to get rid of mosquitoes. Using a shoe and smashing the mosquito against a wall is not enough anymore.
In my old home mosquitoes were not a huge problem. We would sometimes get them in the rainy season. I would deal with them by ensuring I did not get bitten. I would wear long pants and a long-sleeved cotton shirt, and I would dab anti-mosquito lotion on my skin, especially my ankles and back of my neck.
You can do all of this in Florida but it is not enough. In mosquito season, or especially after a hurricane, I use the anti-mosquito cream on all parts of my body when I go outside. And I try and wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, but sometimes it is just too hot.
I have screens on my doors and windows to stop the mosquitoes from getting inside, and I have learned that prevention is better than cure.
In other words, get rid of the mosquitoes and do this using mosquito traps. There are many different kinds of mosquito traps that are on the market, ranging in price from $300 to $1,400. I bought one that is within my price range and while it hasn’t sorted out all my mosquito problems, it has definitely helped. And saying that, I don’t think anyone thing sorts out all mosquito problems but a mosquito trap definitely makes an enormous difference.
Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide. The traps use carbon dioxide to lure mosquitoes into the trap. It’s pretty easy and foolproof too. In mosquito season you can get a bag full of mosquitoes, dead, every single night.
Drawbacks of a Mosquito Trap
So what are the drawbacks? Well, you have to empty and clean the bag. This is not a bad thing and not hard to do and you know, if it gets rid of your mosquitoes it’s a very small price to pay. And then you have to replace the C02 every three to four weeks.
By using a mosquito trap, and you can use them inside and outside, you will definitely have far fewer mosquitoes. A trap is not going to get rid of every single mosquito, of course and so especially in a place like Florida, it is important that you take other precautions too.
I mentioned the mosquito screens on your windows and doors, and also to use anti-mosquito lotion or cream every time you go outside, especially early morning and late afternoon going into the evening. And also use the lotion, or spray, when you go to bed at night.
Stagnant Water and Mosquitoes
As I said, there are many different kinds of mosquitoes in Florida. I can tell you they are all similar and impossible to kill when it’s midnight and one small mosquito is buzzing around your ear!
Try and keep your Florida home clean of any stagnant water. Sweep up your puddles that may be hanging around after a particularly heavy rainstorm. And of course in hurricane season, do your clean up as quickly as you can.
A mosquito trap helps. Do your research as to what kind you want and which one fits into your budget. The fewer mosquitoes you have, the less they will breed. Given they love to breed during hurricane season, your best option is to eradicate them as much as possible.
Get rid of them any which way you can, although try and keep it ecologically and environmentally friendly. I am never mad about using chemicals only because of the other good things that we kill.
General Rules for Mosquito Prevention
Variety of Mosquito Traps
There are many traps on the market. Some attract and trap the insects, some zap the insects and some attract them with fluorescent lighting.
I prefer the nontoxic traps but I also understand that sometimes people are desperate. Mosquitoes in a home can be a terrible thing and can drive you mad after a while. Not only can they drive you mad but they can also make you sick. Not all mosquitoes will make you ill – in fact, most are not deathly – but they will all irritate you.
Mosquitoes and Malaria
If you have been munched to death by a mosquito, or a few mosquitoes, and your bites look infected, use an antiseptic cream for healing.
If this doesn’t work quickly, you may well want to consult your pharmacist or doctor. And if you start feeling ill soon after a bite, or if you have been in a known malaria area, do not delay in seeing a medical professional. Malaria, the Zika virus and West Nile Virus all come from various mosquitoes and are all fatal.