BEND, OR -- If you haven’t been bit by a mosquito yet this summer, count yourself lucky. Entomologist Gail Langellotto says it’s going to be a busy year for those little disease-carrying pests. "Mosquitoes breed in freshwater. With the abundant rains we had early in the summer, it probably created a lot of small pools of water that make perfect mosquito breeding sites."

Langellotto is a professor with the OSU Extension Service and says there are things you can do to prevent mosquitoes from getting too cozy. Reduce the standing water in your yard. Yes, even the bird bath and pet dishes. "If they have any pots that aren’t draining that are holding water, old tires are oftentimes receptacles for standing water where mosquitoes can breed," she tells KBND News. Some aromatic oils are effective as a natural repellent, and Langelloto says the chemical Deet is the gold standard for mosquito protection.

Or, you can get a little more creative, "You can even put a fan out there, because mosquitoes don’t fly in windy conditions, just to keep them away from you when you’re trying to enjoy the outdoors."

She says Bug zappers aren’t much help in combating mosquitoes.