Mosquitoes! Cursed insects if there ever were any. Besides being responsible for millions of deaths through disease transmission, they also affect children and pets, ruin our sleep, and demand billions of dollars annually just to keep them at bay. For a while, advanced eradication has been explored, but if you're looking for a more personal solution without harsh chemicals, maybe this DIY trap can help.
Last month we tried to find out why there are no mosquitoes at Disney World, and what the media giant did was declare war on these insects with a massive program that includes targeted fumigation, constant studies, and expert-led controls. Unfortunately, our resources are much more limited, and when we fight, we do so with tablets, coils, repellent creams, and aerosol insecticide cans. While that may be enough to kill six or seven mosquitoes at home, I imagine those NeoTeo readers with a garden or green space have a more... fierce conflict with these blood-sucking flying psychopaths. If you identify with that, what do you think of building the equivalent of a weapon of mass destruction?
How the DIY Trap Works
The video belongs to Dan Rojas and Denise Rojas of the channel Green Power Science, dedicated to alternative energy sources, repair, survival, and a more 'prepper' lifestyle, if you will. Basically, the project consists of taking a good-sized fan, covering its air intake with mosquito netting or similar, using a couple of magnets to keep the netting from flying off, and placing near it an open bottle of carbonated water (i.e., soda, sparkling water, etc.) as bait. Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide, but the concentration shouldn't be too high. Once they approach the bottle, the mosquitoes can't escape the air current from the fan, and they get trapped against the netting. A small plant sprayer with alcohol finishes them off the next day.
Surprising Benefits and Results
Dan has found that after using this technique for several years, toads, lizards, and spiders lose their fear of fans and come to the netting to easily devour the trapped mosquitoes. Although it's hard to get exact numbers, Dan estimates that a single trap can catch 4,000 mosquitoes per night. An insignificant number compared to the total population, but not bad for a home or garden. As for using the fan outdoors, the idea is to get a robust model, and the mosquito netting also helps protect its motor.
