Mosquitoes are be more than just a nuisance – they are carriers of serious diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever. Kick them to the curb with a cheap and effective mosquito trap. Here’s a simple guide to create one with everyday household items.
Why It Works
By combining sugar, water, and yeast, you can create a mixture that makes carbon dioxide (CO2). And guess what? Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide so this mixture is the ideal bait.
What You’ll Need:
· 1 2-liter plastic bottle
· 1 cup of water
· 1/4 cup of sugar (brown or white is fine)
· 1 gram of yeast (you can add more if you want to make a bigger batch)
· Dark paper or material
How to Make the Trap:
1. Prepare the Bottle: Cut the plastic bottle in half. You’ll use both halves for the trap.
2. Mix the Solution: Dissolve the sugar in water and pour the mixture into the bottom half of the bottle.
3. Add the Yeast: Add the yeast to the sugar water. There’s no need to stir; the yeast will start fermenting on its own and you’ll see the mixture become fizzy.
4. Assemble the Trap: Place the top half of the bottle upside down into the bottom half, creating a funnel.
5. Wrap the Bottle: Wrap the bottle with dark paper or material, leaving the top uncovered.
6. Choose a Good Spot: Put the trap outside. Remember, mosquitoes will be drawn to the CO2 and dark color. They’ll enter the bottle, become trapped and die.
Keep the Trap in Tip Top Shape
To keep the trap working at its best, change the sugar-yeast mixture every two weeks, or more often if you see the trap is full. For an extra boost, tie a worn sock onto the trap. Mosquitoes are fans of body odor, so the smell makes the trap even more irresistible.
With just three simple ingredients and a few minutes of your time, you can stay safe and keep those mosquitoes at bay!
References
Feasibility of Brown Sugar and Yeast Solution as a Potential Organic Mosquito Trap (OMT)
https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2875-9-292
https://www.healthline.com/health/why-do-mosquitoes-bite-some-people-more#prevention
