Heavy Rainfall Hatches More Mosquitoes

Our Texas insect expert answers common questions about bugs.

By Laura RiceMay 20, 2015 7:31 am

It’s only the middle of May and this season has already been hailed as one of the wettest summers in 20 years of Texas history. Pros: greener lawns, fuller swimming holes and cooler weather. Cons: millions of mosquitoes.

Wizzie Brown, our Texas insect expert, is a program specialist with the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Office.

How is the Wet Weather Hatching More Mosquitoes?

“We have mosquitoes here in Texas year-round. But they typically come out when we have heavy rainfall or heavy irrigation events because they do need that standing water to breed,” Brown says. “There are some mosquitoes that lay there eggs in areas that they know will be flooded and when that water hits the eggs they hatch immediately. ”

How to Protect Yourself Against Them:

“Getting rid of the standing water in your yard can get rid of some species of mosquitoes, but it may not necessarily get rid of all,” she says. “I don’t think that you can avoid getting bitten by a mosquito, but you can take precautions to reduce your chance of being bitten. Definitely wearing long sleeves, long pants when you can, not wearing perfumes or smelly things that might attract them and then using repellants when you’re outside.”