RALEIGH, N.C. -- The heat is back after a week of constant rain in parts of the Tar Heel state that led to flooding in some spots and standing water in others.  And with the damp ground and puddles piling up, experts say we're now seeing the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

But there are some things we can do to try to protect ourselves, our families, and our pets from the pesky and sometimes dangerous bugs.  Spectrum News anchor Caroline Blair sat down with Steve Hudak of Arrow Exterminators, for a look at some of those tips.

Arrow Exterminators says it only takes a bottle cap full of water and about 10-14 days for the blood-sucking insects to develop from an egg to an adult.  So with all the recent rain, Hudak says they’re expecting a large influx of mosquitoes to hit North Carolina in the coming days.  Hudak expects so many in the Triangle and Triad, he’s even hiring an extra employee to help field all the calls.

He says however that it doesn’t matter if you work with an expert or not, we all should take extra steps to help keep mosquitoes from breeding, and away from our home.  First, he says get rid of any standing water around our house like in kids toys, old tires or children’s pools.  And if standing water is in the yard or a tree stump and can’t be removed, he says it’s important to treat that area.

Hudak also suggests cleaning out gutters and removing any unnecessary vegetation from around the home.  He says these are perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes to form.  He also suggests using screened porches and making sure your current screens don’t have holes.  That can help create an extra barrier to keep the pests from entering our homes.  And he also suggest using a yellow deterrent light bulb, candles, torches, but more importantly bug spray with DEET to also help keep the bugs away.

But if the problem is too big, or you think you need help, it’s okay to call the experts.  Many will come out and asses your yard.  To learn more, or to contact Arrow Exterminators, just visit their website or call 888-462-7769. 

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