ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996 TAG: 9605280054
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: HAMPTON
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thanks to an especially wet spring, mosquitoes are making an early entrance onto the summer scene.
The pesky insects have been breeding this spring in low-lying, wooded areas, making for ``weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth'' from folks who live near them, said Joe Kertesz, mid-Atlantic regional director for the American Mosquito Control Association.
The weather will dictate the summer's mosquito forecast, said Kertesz, who also works for the Hampton mosquito control commission. If it's dry, mosquitoes won't be a big problem. But heavy showers will bring on the breeding bugs.
Asian tiger mosquitoes are considered the most bothersome in many parts of Virginia. Accidentally transported to the United States through overseas cargo shipments several years ago, they're more aggressive than native species, said University of South Carolina entomologist Dwight Williams.
The tiger mosquito is a day-biting insect, feeding from dawn to dusk. Most other species feed only during the three to four hours around dusk.
Eradicating the Asian tiger mosquitoes is difficult because they hide under leaves and grass, which protects them from poisonous sprays. They breed in just a thimbleful of water.
``There are areas in the community where people haven't been able to go out and use their patios and decks for the last couple of summers,'' Kertesz said.
So, how does one avoid the buzzing nuisances?
The best way is to drain standing water near your homes to deprive mosquitoes of potential breeding areas. Clean gutters, cover empty garbage cans, drain children's wading pools and remove old tires.
Also, don't forget to use insect repellent.
LENGTH: Short : 42 linesby CNB