Local ag agent talks mosquitoes and how to prevent them

While the recent rain has brought lots of flowers and green pastures, it has also brought lots of mosquitoes to the area.

Some mosquitoes were alive prior to all of the rain the area received, which would explain why they're here now, and in a larger capacity.

According to Patrick Kircher, the Roosevelt County Agriculture Agent, the lifespan of adult females, which are bloodsucking, is 42 to 56 days. The males, however, only live for about 10 days, and they don't survive on blood meals.

"They'll be around till the fall. You know, typically when it's cooler," Kircher said. Mosquitoes thrive in warmer, moist climates. Depending on future rainfall, the number of mosquitoes in the area could go up or down.

Kircher suggests trying to get rid of any standing water around the house and keeping the yard trimmed up to prevent mosquitoes as much as possible. "We're moist enough that they're staying and living in the tall grass and weeds. And then they come out from the roots and attack people," Kircher said.

Not only do mosquitoes attack people, but they can attack pets as well. "Mosquitoes can carry heartworms," Kircher said. Heartworm vaccines are available with veterinary providers and medicine can be purchased at the grocery store.

For people, wearing repellants is also important when it comes to fighting off the insect. Kircher also suggests wearing long sleeves and pants if that's an option. Not taking active measures in mosquito control can cause the spread of certain diseases like West Nile and dengue.

"We haven't seen it (West Nile) in a while. But you know, when it moved into this country 10 plus years ago, there were several people that got sick from it," Kircher said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), West Nile Virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms, and about 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.

"The other side of this is just the sheer misery that the bites cause," Kircher said. To help those itchy bites on the skin, the CDC recommends putting an ice pack over the bite for 10 minutes to reduce swelling and itching. They also suggest using an over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream.

While it may be extremely hard to do so, it's most important to try to not scratch the bite.