How to get rid of midges in the apartment: TOP-26 funds
|Quite often, small midges appear in apartments. Moreover, the moment of their appearance does not depend at all on the time of the year or on the weather. This happens completely suddenly and not in the amount of a couple of pieces. This is not to say that these insects are super parasites, but their presence does not bring any pleasure to people. An annoying tiny midge without a drop of embarrassment swarms before your eyes, can get into your mouth, nose or ears, settles on vegetables and fruits, can even get into bundles of cookies, inexplicably “occupies” windows and window sillsannoying pets, etc.
Reasons for the appearance
The most interesting thing is that there is an explanation for all of the above. Insects choose the most suitable places for living and breeding. And which ones - it depends on the type of midges. But first things first. First, let's see how these crumbs appear in the apartment.
There are several reasons:
- Fruits and vegetables are not the first freshness. The smell of plant rot is the most desirable aroma for small insects, and spoiled and fermented fruits, juices, compotes, beer are the best delicacy. In addition, it is a very suitable environment for growing offspring. It is worth noting that the female can lay eggs on only ripening vegetables and fruits, and when they get into the room, the larvae will receive the most favorable conditions for growth.
- Wet rags, poorly cleaned or clogged sink. High humidity not only pleases midges, but makes them just happy. If you add to the first one the accumulated particles of food that began to rot, rotten coating on surfaces and wet rags, an unpleasant smell of all this, it immediately becomes clear why insects are in such a hurry to “capture” these territories.
- Flower pots with indoor plants. Many housewives top dress indoor plants with tea leaves. At the same time, excessive watering leads to decay of the tea leaves, the appearance of rot particles and mold, plaque and bad smell. For midges - these are ideal conditions. Plus constantly high humidity.
- "Generous" neighbors. If the midges live constantly with neighbors, then it is very likely that they will also want to visit the nearby premises.
- Trash bin and packages. An untimely disposed bin will immediately become a haven for small insects. Dirt and the remains of spoiled food will become a feeding trough for adult midges and their larvae. Waste that fell on the surface of a garbage bag or bucket and was not noticed is perfect for laying eggs.
- Pets. In this case, the matter is not in the animals themselves, but in us. More precisely, it is about how we care about our "smaller brothers" and monitor the purity of their whereabouts.When the algae grew in the aquarium and the water stagnated, the cage with the rabbit was not cleaned, pieces of vegetables were lost in the hamster’s sawdust, and the dog’s bowl wasn’t washed for a long time, sooner or later the organics would rot and lure the midges. And they will already find the opportunity to roam and bring offspring.
Summing up, we can say that there is still a danger from the presence of midges in the apartment. Insects do not sit still, they "travel" to different places and objects. They can start with a rotten apple in a bin or with moldy earth in a flower pot, and finish in the kitchen, on dining table. The route may be different, but the essence is the same: voluntarily or involuntarily, they are carriers of many harmful bacteria that can lead to infections. Consequently, the whole life of small insects depends only on the actions of man, on maintaining his cleanliness in the house and carrying out preventive work.
It is interesting that insects can live year-round in a city apartment. Their number depends on the presence of a favorable environment and temperature. In summer, when the temperature is more than 18 ° C, they live about 3 weeks, at low rates - about 1.5 weeks, and at zero - insects die. In addition, larvae and adults die several days later if they have nothing to eat.
Types of midges
It would seem that very small midges will not create problems and get rid of them is a couple of trifles. And this, indeed, may be so. But only if there are only a few pieces of insects, the reason for their appearance was found right there, measures were taken to eliminate the pests, cleaning was carried out immediately and everything necessary was done to prevent their reappearance. Otherwise, you will have to apply drastic measures in full. Since it is already known how “babies” appear in the apartment, and where their favorite places are, one needs to find out what they are, whether they are the same or different, what are their differences and characteristic features.
The family of dipterans midges has about 2000 species. This article is about the most common home species.
- Drosophila (wine or fruit midges)
The size of insects varies from 1 to 3 mm, the color can be light or dark brown, dark yellow, rare, but individuals of orange or black color can be found. Most often, midges can be found in the kitchen, where they look for fruits, sweets, vegetables, which you can eat and lay eggs on them. Fermented juices and alcohol will not leave pests without attention, and also will not fly by sinks or bin.
- Sewer (humpback)
The body of insects has a thick "hair" cover. These midges are thrilled with dampness, dark rooms, leaky sewers, dirty kitchens or clogged sinks. They can become carriers of dangerous bacteria.
- Whitefly
Whiteflies have a characteristic body color; it is as if covered with powdery white pollen. In length, insects can reach from 1.5 to 3 mm. Mice like warm, rarely ventilated rooms. Well, if the apartment has indoor plants, the soil of which is oversaturated with moisture, then the presence of small pests is easily determined by the sticky white coating on the shoots. The juice of plants serves them as food, and under the leaves you can find larvae that look very reminiscent of scales.
- Scyarida (mushroom mosquito)
Small black midges (from 3 to 5 mm) are also not indifferent to indoor plants. Insects flying over the house flora are harmless, they multiply in the soil of flowers saturated with moisture, but the larvae grow quickly, taking juices from plant roots and nutrients from the soil.
Also in dwellings, you can often find pests:
- Wardrobe (adore cabinets).
- Water (look for places where the humidity is most high or there is always water).
- Gnusov (bite a person).
When the type of midges is known, it is much easier to choose a way to deal with them.But, first of all, it is necessary to eliminate the cause of the appearance of insects in the apartment.
Elimination of causes depending on the type of midges
Different pests need a different approach.
Fruit flies
- Throw away all spoiled fruits, vegetables, and fermented berries.
- Get rid of all the fruits that are in doubt, as they could come into contact with midges and become carriers of insect larvae.
- Review all available products and carefully check their expiration dates.
- In a room with "tenants" to do a thorough cleaning using household chemicals.
- It is advisable to install on the windows anti-mosquito nets with a minimum cell.
Humpback in the pipes
- Make sure that the communication systems (sewerage, drainage and water supply) are working: there are no leaks, rotten areas (on metal risers), accumulations of debris and mucus in siphons of kitchen sinks and bathtubs, etc.
- Carry out work on troubleshooting pipe problemsusing cleaning and disinfecting agents.
- Use insecticide sprays to deter or destroy insects.
- At least once a week, use special gels or other cleaning products to treat the plums.
- Regularly carry out preventive treatments.
Mushroom midges in indoor plants
- Check the flower soil for its moisture content and change the schedule for watering plants.
- Check that the drainage is correctly made in each pot.
- Partially or completely replace the soil, having previously treated it with the corresponding fungicides.
- Use mineral fertilizers produced by the industry, following the recommendations of the manufacturer.
- Periodically treat plants with special chemical compounds.
Methods for getting rid of midges in an apartment
Cats appeared not today and not yesterday; they have long been familiar to humans. Although now we are not talking about the vultures that bite people and animals, but about modern apartment midges, there are a lot of methods to deal with them. These are the methods tested by time and experience, and new technologies, and the discoveries of chemists used in practice. Get to know them better.
Folk ways
Many housewives are not supporters of chemistry - today it is already abundant everywhere. Therefore, they successfully use folk methods, homemade or the most safe for humans traps. Most methods are designed for the reaction of insects to different smells, and since midges are not fans of aromatherapy at all, the methods are very effective.
Ground cloves (boiled water)
Apartment midges are not at all enthusiastic about this spice, but it can easily make them run away from home, as far as possible and as quickly as possible. To do this, 5 g of ground cloves is poured with 1 glass of water and put on a slow fire for 2 hours, achieving a saturated specific smell that repels insects.
Garlic
The smell of garlic is not tolerated by many insects, and midges are no exception. Therefore, if you spread the cloves of this vegetable (whole or chopped) on shelves or near pots with plants, midges will be scattered all over.
Horseradish
Like the previous vegetable, you can use chopped horseradish left in the kitchen. The specific aroma of the roots of the plant will quickly disperse insects.
Tomatoes
Tomato seedlings or already adult plants growing in potted houses will be a big problem for the ubiquitous midges. Tomato greens has a characteristic smell that insects do not like, which means the latter do not stay in the apartment.
Geranium
This indoor flower can, without exaggeration, be called a universal remedy for many insects. Moths, mosquitoes and flies do not tolerate the smell of this plant at all, you can safely add midges to their friendly team. Indoor geraniums on the windowsill and decorate the room, and protect it from pests.
Essential oils
Insects, in fact, actively react to different smells and their reaction is very negative.Today you can find a wide variety of essential oils that will not only drive pests out of the house, but also fill it with pleasant aromas. If you choose sets of 3-4 oils, the effect will be much better:
- Camphor, cloves and tansy.
- Incense and fir, pine and patchouli.
- Vanilla, geranium, wormwood and tangerines.
- Ylang-ylang, lavender and lemon.
- Cedar and pine, tea tree and juniper.
You can achieve a good effect from the use of essential oils not only with the help of an aroma lamp, but also by applying a few drops of oil on a warm pan, on a lamp cover, on the battery (if the heating season has already begun). You can put tansy twigs, wormwood on the shelves - bay leaves in the room or spray the surface with spray water, into which a few drops of some essential oil are added
Room lemon
The indoor lemon tree will be an excellent ally in the fight against midges. And rubbed in the hands, the leaves will fill with their aromas the whole room and will help to forget about small pests for a long time.
Hellebore water
Hellebore water is well known to many as an active antiparasitic agent used to combat pediculosis. But it has a killer effect not only on lice, but also on apartment midges. To get rid of flying pests, it is necessary to moisten the dishwashing sponge with the indicated solution and put it in the place of the highest concentration of midges for 8 hours. During this time, insects will die.
Matches
With the periodic appearance of midges on indoor plants, you can use the most ordinary matches (4-5 pieces) to combat them. They must be thrust into the ground with sulfur heads down. When the sulfur has dissolved, the matches must be replaced with new ones. It is necessary to carry out such a procedure several times (every other day for a week) in order to completely expel the pests. Not bad for the same purpose (release of flora from insects):
- Wood ash. Sprinkle abundantly in potted soil.
- Potassium permanganate. Pour the soil with a solution of a small concentration (very carefully so as not to harm the plants).
- Citrus scented soap. Prepare the leaves of the flowers with the prepared soap solution, stand for a while, and then rinse.
- Solution from tar and laundry soap (20 g of soap chips in 1 liter of water). Pour the earth around the plant with a very weak solution.
- Chalk from cockroaches. Finely chop and sprinkle on the ground.
- Infusion of garlic. Grind 3 garlic heads, pour 1 liter of boiling water and let it brew for 4 hours. The product is suitable for processing soil and flower leaves.
Homemade traps
The advantage of self-made traps is that they are completely safe for people, and for the manufacture of you can use the most simple and affordable improvised means.
Glass jar
At the bottom of the glass jar (volume 0.5 l or 1 l) to attract insects, put a few pieces of spoiled fruit or pour a little beer, jam, sugar syrup, etc. Tighten the top of the container with cling film or a plastic bag. In a well-tightened “lid”, make several small holes that will become “entrance doors” for midges hurrying to a treat. But midges will not be able to get back.
Instead of cans, a disposable plastic cup is often used, but paper will become an alternative film option without any problems. Just do not cover the neck of the can with it, but make a funnel with a small hole at the end. Insert the resulting cone into the jar with the bait tip down, treat the joints with tape and the trap is ready. If plastic devices can be disposed of with midges, then what to do with the can? It is believed that a jar covered with a polyethylene lid can be put in microwave for 30-40 seconds with a power of 600-700. All insects will die, and nothing will happen to the container.
Plastic bottle
Top part the bottle with a volume of 1.5-2 l cut off.Turn the resulting cone and insert into the remaining lower part of the tank. To avoid gaps, seal the joints of two elements (side) with adhesive tape. At the bottom of the design, put your favorite midge delicacies. For insects that get inside, there will be no turning back.
Detergent solution
The trap is convenient in that you do not have to figure out how to cover it or how many holes to make. Everything is very simple. We fill any container with ¼ warm water, add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of dishwashing detergent or shampoo (the amount is given per 0.5 l jar) - the device for catching midges is ready.
Plastic bag
The easiest trap option. In the package you need to put a rotten slice of banana or a few "stale" apple bits. Open the package slightly and wait for the insects to assimilate inside and a sufficient number of them will be gathered. When you decide: “It's time!”, The trap must be carefully and quickly tied up, and then thrown away with the contents.
The bait for annoying midges can be sour or sweet liquids: apple and wine vinegar, wine, juice, beer, compote or honey
Hop trap
Moshkara will never fly past dessert wine or beer. To lure insects into a trap, it is enough to leave an open, empty, but not washed bottle from under the “enticing” drinks on the table. A couple of hours will not pass, as there will be an incredible amount of Drosophila inside the trap. All that remains to be done is to quickly plug the cork and discard the bottle.
Milk, water and formalin
An effective trap that can be placed not only in problem areas, but also on a table or window sill. The composition is prepared from water, milk and formalin in proportions of 5: 3: 1. The mixture is poured into a plate or a not very deep bowl and placed in the place of the greatest accumulation of pests.
Milk with pepper
Similarly to the above method, the proposed trap is made. Add 1 table to 1 cup of warm milk. lies. ground (black) pepper and 8 tables. lies. Sahara. The mixture is boiled for 10 minutes over low heat, and then it is filled with a shallow plate and catching of insects begins. You can moisten sheets of paper in this solution and hang them over the places where the midges are accumulated. Two-winged animals are tempted by sweet-pepper baits, for which they will pay with their lives.
Mechanical methods
For the action of some funds, a certain period of time is required and insects, respectively, will disappear gradually. Not everyone wants to use chemicals. Those who are no longer able to tolerate the presence of midges, and want to get rid of them as soon as possible (this can be a large part of the swarm), should try the following methods:
Vacuum cleaner
Household appliances are always a reliable assistant in the house. Therefore, many attribute the vacuum cleaner to an effective means of combating midges. Although they can only collect a large accumulation of midges, and even then - the part will still run away, and the next day they will have to hunt for the next "batch". Nevertheless, portable vacuum cleaners are quite popular - they hunted down insects, caught a little and it became easier - at least some of the pests were destroyed. To increase the number of pests caught, you must first put the bait, which will gather around a large swarm, and then turn on the vacuum cleaner at full power.
Moisturizing
With the help of a spray gun, indeed, you can moisten the wings of insects and the latter will not be able to fly. This method works, but has several nuances. Immediately you need to think about where to quickly remove midges, and, secondly, correctly calculate the degree of hydration, so that then you do not deal with the flood.
Ventilation
Airing the apartment must be carried out regularly and be sure. Good air circulation will prevent odors and excess moisture. Through ventilation can remove a considerable amount of midges from the house.
Smoking
The method is based on intolerance by insects of sharp specific odors. There are several options, but before using each of them, you need to make sure that no one in the house is allergic to the components used.
- Camphor in the pan
To make camphor work and release the characteristic smell of wormwood, it is necessary to pour the powder into a well-heated pan. With such an amazing flavoring you can go around all the rooms or leave it to cool in the room with the greatest "concentration" of midges. In the absence of camphor, clove oil or verbena will be equally effective.
- Incense
The phrase "afraid of the devil incense" can be safely attributed to midges. Fumigation will cause insects to quickly and permanently leave the occupied territory. There is no incense - it also does not matter, you can safely take for burning twigs of thyme, pine or juniper.
Mosquito nets
It seems - he put a mosquito and not a single insect penetrates the house, but they break through even through such protection. It's all about the size of the cell (from 0.6 to 1.2 mm) and it can not always stop midges.
Then apply additional protection:
- The "grandfather" method is to buy the most inexpensive tights from kapron, cut and supplement the grid with another layer.
- Chemical repellents - sprays that can be applied to the grid, and they will deter mosquitoes.
- Natural helpers - vanillin dissolved in vodka or water, are sprayed over a grid from a spray bottle, and the essential oils of eucalyptus, lemon balm, lemon or tea tree are applied using a cotton swab. After this treatment, you can be calm - not a single midge will end up in the apartment.
Chemicals
If all of the above methods do not give the desired result and the number of midges in the room becomes catastrophic, “heavy artillery” enters the fray - ready-made weapons of varying degrees of toxicity and intensity of action. In the proposed list of funds, we will move from less powerful to more active.
Repellent repellers
The principle of action of effective repellers is simple: a special strip, saturated with the active substance, is placed in the tank. When the active composition begins to act, midges either die or are in a hurry to leave the home. What you must do after using this product is to regularly ventilate the room. Among the most popular are worth noting: "Reftamid", "Gardeks", "Breeze-Anti-mosquito".
Light traps (zappers)
Special electric traps belong to a number of new devices for killing insects. The principle of operation of the device is based on a huge "love" of midges for light. Two-winged animals rush to the soft light emitted by the lamp, fall on the internal metal grid, which is constantly energized (safe for humans), and die. Such traps are fairly easy to install, and their clear advantage is the lack of chemicals.
Glue traps (industrial)
The sticky traps that industry offers can be attributed to the most harmless and affordable means of controlling insects. They are best used in rooms where food is being prepared or stored. Velcro tapes must be unfolded and hung under the ceiling of the kitchen, the result will be visible the next day.
Velcro made on a flat surface, great for killing insects in plants. The device is installed in the ground so that it does not interfere with the flower, and with the alluring aroma takes all the “blow” of the pests. The best representatives of drugs of this series include: “Flies Away”, FT 001 with attractant and “Bros”, “Silvalure”.
There are Velcro folded in the shape of a house, they are effective, they can be put on shelves, close to products, and externally they have an attractive clean look ("Raptor", "Aeroxon").
Fumigators
Compact devices are designed to be activated by heating insecticides (fumigators are powered by an electrical network).The latter are part of the liquid, which is filled with small tanks, or special plates. A correctly selected preparation is designed for a specific area and will ensure the absence of midges on a certain space for a sufficiently long period of time (“Combat”, “Raptor” aquafumigator).
Aerosols
The use of aerosols requires the mandatory implementation of all manufacturer's recommendations and safety precautions. Considering that chemicals will work for a certain time indoors, you should take care of children's things, toys and food. All of the above must be carefully packed or hidden.
It is important not to forget that aerosols and sprays with insecticides can only be used in rooms that are well ventilated. In the children's room and in the kitchen, it is better not to use such funds, if necessary, then act with special attention and caution
“Combat”, “Raid”, “Dichlorvos”, “Hexachloran”, “Chlorophos”, “Raptor” - these are one of the most effective means that are used against apartment midges. And, even if their modern counterparts have a pleasant smell, one should never forget that the active substance of these drugs is poison.
Prevention Methods
As practice shows, it is much easier to prevent a problem than to deal with its consequences later. This also applies to midges. Maintaining cleanliness in the house and carrying out maintenance work is not as difficult as it might seem.
Enough:
- Take out the trash regularly and keep the bin clean.
- Periodically check food for freshness and compliance with the expiration date.
- Damaged products must be thrown away right away, and even better taken out of the house right away.
- Keep the sink, bath and toilet clean, clean the blockages in a timely manner, monitor the patency of the siphons and disinfect them (“Flup”, “Perffi div”, “Mole Turbo”, “Pothan”).
- Continuously monitor the cleanliness of aquariums, cages, trays and litter pets.
- It is correct to irrigate indoor plants, periodically cultivate the land with preparations from specialized stores (Aktara, Aktellik).
- When cleaning, use essential oils or products with a strong odor, from which midges are completely "not happy".
- Install mosquito nets (in the warm season).
Conclusion
Insects do not appear in the apartment just out of nowhere. There is always a reason for their invasion that you will have to find, get rid of it and the consequences that have already come. It is much easier to reconsider your attitude to cleanliness, washing dishes, fruits and crumbs left on the table, wet rags in the sink and sad flowers growing in the “swamp”. The list goes on and on, but it’s much easier to devote a little time every day to clean up and fix small problems so far.
But even in the case of a massive invasion of midges (no matter what type it belongs to), there are always reliable and proven means that will help you quickly and permanently get rid of annoying insects.