Be proactive against pesky mosquitoes

Two sure signs of summer are expected to surface this week - one welcome, one not so.

Meteorologists say the warmer weather we've been craving after what seemed to be a never-ending winter arrives with forecasts showing temperatures in the upper 80s. Unfortunately, that hot weather will also trigger life for a summertime pest - the mosquito.

The culprit in both cases was an unseasonably cool spring that has been one of the wettest on record, setting the stage for this love-hate first week of summer.

"With all the rain we're having, all that's missing at this point is the higher heat, and as soon as that kicks in, then we'll see a tremendous increase in activity," Tim Martin, co-owner of JT Skeeter Beater in Vernon Hills, told Daily Herald staff writer Jake Griffin.

Griffin reported Monday the Chicago area has seen more than 17 inches of rain since March 20. That's far more than the 11.9 inches of springtime rain a year ago and a whisker away from the 18.79 record set in 1970.

All that rain has swollen ponds, lakes and streams, but it also left standing water in low-lying areas and in every imaginable backyard container.

The point here is each is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes - the nuisance floodwater variety that drives you indoors while you're trying to enjoy a cool drink at dusk, and the West Nile virus-carrying culex.

But you don't have to be a victim; you can take action in your neighborhood.

Before those nasty eggs can hatch into swarms of skeeters, mount a search-and-destroy mission. Survey the backyard and nearby fields to look for anything that holds water. Drill drain holes in tire swings, empty and remove old cans and buckets, fill flower pots with dirt and flowers.

The goal is to eliminate nature's nurseries.

And don't forget about the seed pods from trees that you see collecting in street gutters. They can clog storm drains, and those clogs can become nests for mosquitoes.

There's not much you can do about flooding along ponds and streams and in vast green areas, but reinforcements already are at work.

Local governments are focusing on those areas, using their own crews and professional bug-battlers to spray and kill mosquito eggs before they become biting adults.

Of particular concern are mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus, a potentially serious illness. While most people will show no symptoms if bitten, one in 150 people suffer severe symptoms, including high fever, headache and even paralysis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People over age 50 are at a higher risk.

Experts tell us not to curtail outdoor activities but to be vigilant about eliminating breeding grounds and be careful.

So load up on the insect repellent and enjoy summer.