Bug Off: How to Stop Those Mosquito Bites

Mosquito outbreaks have been biting communities around the country. Some places, like Florida, haven't been hit this hard in a decade.

Find out how you can avoid the hungry swarms with tips from University of Maryland entomologist Michael Raupp. Check out his tips below.

Why are the mosquitoes so bad this year and where are they all coming from?

It's those near-record rainfalls in May, June and July in much of the country. A soggy start makes for lots of standing water -- perfect breeding sites for millions of mosquitoes.

Anything that can hold water, a wheel barrow, a bird bath or even a Frisbee could have 100 to 200 mosquitoes breeding in it.

Related

Beat the Heat: How to Stop Summer Sweat

Bye-Bye Bad Hair Days: Fighting Summer Frizz

Mosquitoes, Fish, Pools and Foreclosure

Now, as temperatures climb into the 80s and 90s, the generation time for mosquitoes can be cut in half. That means twice as many mosquitoes in the same amount of time.

So, get rid of that standing water, and if you can't, throw in a little thing called a BT Dunk. It obliterates mosquitoes.

Are mosquitoes more than just a nuisance when grilling in the back yard?

Mosquitoes carry serious diseases like the West Nile virus. West Nile has killed more than 1,000 people in the United States since it was first discovered in 1999.

It is particularly serious for some seniors and people with weakened immune systems. Right now, about half a dozen states have human cases of West Nile, and another 10 are showing activity.