Because your air conditioner's outdoor unit is moist, mosquitoes may find their way inside your system. So, clean up all standing water and resolve structural issues causing pooling.
Your air conditioner can offer easy access to the inside of your home. The bugs most commonly found in your AC system are flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes, ants, and spiders.
We all are aware of a well-known fact that air conditioners tend to pile up a lot of stagnant water. This makes it one of the most comforting mosquito breeding sites. A female mosquito uses AC drains and residue pans in order to breed.
Bugs enter air conditioners through the gaps around the air ducts, outdoor units, and even cracks in walls. Though some holes might seem small, they create a way for the tiny bugs to pass through. One way to address this problem is to caulk any gaps to prevent bugs from coming into your home.
Air conditioning creates a breeze, this makes it harder to fly. This is the same reason why mosquitoes do not tend to bite you when it is windy. Air conditioning dries the air, Mosquitoes seek out moist locations.
A mosquito net creates a barrier, preventing mosquitoes and other insects being able to reach your skin when you are sleeping or resting. The barrier is stronger if the net has also been treated (impregnated) with insecticide.
According to research, the speed of the fan can help deter mosquitoes, which are naturally weak fliers. Another reason for the fan's effectiveness is the fact that it disperses carbon dioxide and other chemical cues and odors that mosquitoes use to locate hosts for feeding.
Mosquitoes are cold blooded. This means, the warmer the temperature the more likely you will find mosquitoes. Most air conditioned homes stay cooler than that on a summer's day, so indoor mosquito activity tends to be suppressed. Temperatures around 80 degrees are favored by these pests.
Going to the shop and buying an insect spray is the usual reaction, but you shouldn't spray inside your AC ducts with pesticide, as this can cause the fumes to spread through your home the next time you turn on the air conditioning. This could make you and your pets ill.
Install a bug-proof cover on the furnace vent.
If you use a gas furnace, it will have a vent that exits the roof. Unless it's covered, it's possible for mosquitoes to come down it and enter your HVAC system.
Mosquitoes are cold-blooded insects. They prefer to live in areas that are around 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. So even though cold weather doesn't kill mosquitoes, they definitely don't like it. At around 60 degrees, they become lethargic and they are incapable of functioning at temperatures below 50 degrees.
These insects are looking for warm, dark places with plenty of moisture. Typically looking for water, mosquitoes are common in kitchens, basements, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
Air Conditioner Drip Pan
The stagnant water on the tray is a suitable location for mosquitoes to breed. Ensure that you regularly check your AC drip pans and drainage pipes for stagnant water.
Mosquitoes need a way to get into your house. In summer, open doors and windows are common in homes without A/C and tiny flying insects are more likely to find a way to enter. However, air conditioned houses are usually kept tightly shut to keep the coolness inside—which also helps keep mosquitoes outside.
Standing puddles of water can attract mosquitoes and increase their presence in your home. Because your air conditioner's outdoor unit is moist, mosquitoes may find their way inside your system. So, clean up all standing water and resolve structural issues causing pooling.
Most times, when cleaning AC systems with water, the outside unit can be sprayed but there's no need to spray inside the home.
Bugs frequently travel into AC vents and HVAC systems for food. Many smell the Freon from the air conditioner. They will break into your home to inspect it, and what they find when they arrive is a dark and quiet space with access to even more food and water in your kitchen.
Bug Zappers – A bug zapper is powered by electricity and uses heat and carbon dioxide to attract mosquitoes. When the mosquito or another flying pest comes close to the device, it is electrocuted, killing it instantly.
Mosquitoes are turned off by several natural scents, including citronella, peppermint, cedar, catnip, patchouli, lemongrass, lavender and more. You can add some of these plants to your landscaping to fend them off.
In fact, studies have demonstrated that Vicks Vaporub has no significant impact on mosquito behavior or their attraction to humans. It is important to rely on scientifically proven methods of mosquito repellency, such as using EPA-approved insect repellents containing ingredients like DEET or picaridin.
The answer is no, mosquitoes are not attracted to light like many insects are, but they're not repelled by light either.
Maintain fly screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home
Maintain fly screens on windows, doors, vents and chimneys. (Screens should be no coarser than 12 x 12 meshes per 25mm, or 1.2mm. Use an even coarser mesh if you wish to keep out other smaller biting insects, like sandflies.)