Summer is a fantastic time of year to get outside and enjoy some fun in the sun. Unfortunately, it is also the time of year when many of us tend to get eaten alive by mosquitoes. We may spray ourselves with pesticides to repel mosquitoes but that doesn’t keep them from being in the general area. Quite simply, when it is warm outside, they are going to be there waiting for us.
A mosquito bite is not only unpleasant because they are feeding on our blood, they also leave a little present behind and most of us have an allergic reaction to it. This includes everyone from the young to the old and even our pets. We may try to avoid the issue with citronella candles or some mosquito repellent but sometimes you need to go for the gusto. There is no need for you to take this laying down, get ready to fight the good fight and trap those little bloodsuckers to get them out of your life once and for all.
This little DIY project uses a plastic 2-liter soda bottle to create a little trap. The other ingredients that are used for this project create carbon dioxide and that attracts mosquitoes from far-off. When they are attracted to the carbon dioxide, it acts as a bait and then traps them in this makeshift trap.
The first thing you should do is gather the materials:
2-Liter Plastic Bottle without the cap
1/4 Teaspoon Yeast
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Cup Warm or Hot Water
Now it’s time to get to work:
1. Cut the bottle in half using a large knife
2. Pour the brown sugar into the bottom half of the cut bottle
3. Pour in the warm water and yeast
4. Turn over the top half of the cut bottle and fit it together so the neck is down in the liquid bait
This is a very simple way to begin capturing mosquitoes and getting rid of them once and for all. After you have made the trap, you can put it in your yard in an area where mosquitoes tend to congregate. Don’t put them too close to where you will hang out but set up a perimeter on the outside of your area.
When mosquitoes detect the carbon dioxide, they will slide down the makeshift funnel into the water. They will try to escape but the funnel will keep them inside and eventually, they will die. There may be a few that are able to exit the same way they came in but it is very rare.
You can make this trap a little bit more effective by taping the edges of the bottle to keep any of them from climbing out the sides. It also helps to seal in the chemical reaction and produce more carbon dioxide.
These traps will need to be replaced every couple of weeks. You don’t need to replace the plastic bottle, just put in fresh ingredients. You can even use smaller plastic drink bottles if you don’t want the large 2-liter bottles out in your outdoor environment.
This trap is not only effective and easy to maintain, it is inexpensive as well. You might need to use other methods of fighting bugs along with it but this multifaceted attack is going to get rid of mosquitoes and allow you to enjoy some time outside.
You can watch it in action in this video: