‘Mosquitoes cause annoyance’ was often the first response by both rural and urban participants when asked about problems caused by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes cause annoyance when people are resting or working. Preventing being bitten was often seen as inconvenient. Participants, especially in rural areas, mentioned inconvenience caused by being forced to stay inside bed nets while watching TV at night, or their children having to eat dinner inside bed nets. Urban people often cited the inconvenience of having to keep doors and windows closed—an unsatisfactory solution in hot, humid weather. Importantly, participants tend not to perceive disease risk as the major problem associated with mosquitoes but rather the more everyday problem of ‘annoyance’. As one rural housewife expressed: