With well over five inches of rain in Humboldt since mid-July, you have likely noticed an uptick in the number of mosquitoes.

The City of Humboldt does have a mosquito control program in place throughout the summer months, using larvicide.

However, the pesky buzzers still have plenty of space elsewhere to eventually find you.

"They can fly up to about seven miles. Anything outside of city limits, if they have bred and hatched, they will make their way into town," Facilities Maintenance Manager Lawrence Dunne said.

Other opportunities for reproduction come naturally through moisture and precipitation. 

Dunne says that while it is unlikely to completely nuke the situation in your own yard, there are signs to look for.

"If you have tire ruts or low areas on your property that have standing water, either try to dry it off as soon as possible, or keep an eye on it."

Sloughs are a common area for mosquitoes to reproduce.

If enough time has gone by for the pests to create their own annoying offspring, Dunne added that you can also search for the eggs.

"What you're looking for is almost a worm-like looking thing that squiggles up and down. They attach to the surface of the water and breed," he noted. "Depending on weather, it takes three to seven days to go from hatching to becoming an adult mosquito."

Outside of doing the mosquito swat dance and wearing heavier clothing, Dunne says the usual modes of combat are typically all you can do for relief.

"Citronella based coils, screening, repellant," he said. "Other than being vigilant of the surroundings, just hope for wind. The cooler it is, the more docile they get. The hotter the day, the more humid it is, the more active they will be."

The city's control program begins each year in mid-April and wraps up sometime in September.

You can hear more from Dunne below.