As summer approaches and regular rainfall continues, now is the time to focus on managing local mosquito populations. During recent work around my home, I found mosquito larvae in nearly every object that could hold water: the birdbath, plant trays, dog water bowl, garden buckets — you name it. If they are in my yard, they are probably in yours, too.

Mosquitoes require standing water for their eggs, larvae and pupae to develop. Adult mosquitoes emerge from these wet environments and begin feeding on plant sugars and nectar to fuel their flight. Female mosquitoes also begin searching for a blood meal, which provides the proteins typically needed to produce eggs. Male mosquitoes, by contrast, do not bite and survive solely on plant-based food sources.

A prevalent pest

There are 63 known species of mosquitoes in Georgia, each with unique behaviors and preferred hosts. It is this blood-feeding behavior that makes mosquitoes such significant transmitters of disease.

Globally, mosquitoes spread viruses, protozoa and parasites called filarial worms between people, or from animals to humans, depending on the disease agent.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecast a wetter-than-normal summer for the Southeast. That means we must be especially diligent in removing sources of standing water around our homes and neighborhoods. In Georgia, the most commonly transmitted mosquito-borne disease is West Nile virus. The peak period for transmission typically runs from Aug. 15 to Sept. 15, making the NOAA forecast particularly relevant this year.

Tips to stop the bite

The best way to prevent diseases spread by mosquitoes is to avoid getting bitten. To do that, eliminate standing water, support organized mosquito control programs, and dress in light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Lighter clothing reduces the contrast between your body and the environment, making you less visible to mosquitoes. It also lowers your heat signature, another factor mosquitoes use to locate hosts.

Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved insect repellents when you are at risk of being bitten. These products have been proven safe and effective when used according to the label. Many EPA-approved repellents can be used on children as young as 2 months. When applying repellent to children, an adult should first apply the product to their hands, then rub it onto the child’s exposed skin, avoiding the eyes, mouth and hands.

As always, read and follow label directions carefully — remember, the label is the law.

For more tips on beating summer's blood-sucking baddies, listen to the Cultivating Curiosity podcast episode featuring Gray and CAES entomologist Nancy Hinkle providing practical information on two of the South’s most irritating pests: ticks and mosquitoes.