Heavy rain could mean a bumper crop of mosquitoes

It may not feel like it outside, but summer is on its way and that means that prime time for mosquitoes.

Or should we call them unwanted guests.

Katie Batchelor is certainly familiar with the unwanted guests.

“Last year I went out for 20 minutes and came back with over 40 bites,” she said.

But mosquitoes are more than a nuisance. They can carry some nasty diseases.

“West Nile Virus was the big outbreak we had several years ago here in Colorado,” said James Whidden, of Mug A Bug Pest & Termite Control.

And with it getting warmer, mosquitoes are getting ready to come out. Hatching typically happens when the thermometer reaches the 70s.

“Within (a) week to 14 day period, they can go from egg to adult,” said Whidden.

In a normal year it’s a nuisance, but a wet year is much worse.

All of the rain over the past few weeks means that there is a lot of standing water around.

Which is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The best way to reduce possible problems with mosquitoes is to eliminate as much standing water as possible.

“Any and all water mitigation that you can do is a major prevention,” said Whidden.

Batchelor has another idea on how to fight the mosquito menace.

“This year I’m looking at plants like citronella and others that will actually keep mosquitoes away,” she said.

Whidden also says that if you have a pond, make sure to treat it or at least keep the water moving through it.

Just a few of the many things that people in Southern Colorado will try as mosquito season gets underway.