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Insects and bugs are everywhere now.

Topping the list, my daughter says, is mosquitoes. She said this after she suffered more than 15 bites while picking green beans the other evening. My, can 15-year-olds whine!

The word mosquito comes from the Portuguese, meaning "small fly." Around the world are 3,500 species of mosquitoes, which often interfere with outdoor activities and transmit disease.

I figured it was only a matter of time before we suffered an onslaught from these blood suckers.

All mosquitoes need water to complete the life cycle, and we've certainly had an ample supply of that through rain in recent weeks.

Some mosquitoes lay eggs on the sides of tree holes, in discarded containers or in depressions in the ground that hold water.

The eggs can lie dormant for several years. Some eggs will hatch when they are flooded by rainfall. Several flooding and drying cycles are usually required for all of the eggs to hatch.

Other mosquitoes lay eggs directly on the surface of water. The eggs can attach to one another to form a raft, or individual eggs can float on the water.

These eggs hatch in 24 to 48 hours, releasing larvae that are commonly called "wrigglers" because you can often see them wriggling up and down.

Generally, the larvae feed on micro-organisms and organic material in the water, but some mosquitoes prey on the larvae of other mosquito species and are regarded as beneficial. In about seven to 10 days after eggs hatch, larvae change to the pupal or "tumbler" stage in preparation for adult life.

While doing the research for this column, I learned a few things. I was under the impression that all mosquitoes feed on animals or people, but this is not true.

Male and female mosquitoes are nectar feeders, but the females of many species are also capable of hematophagy (drinking blood).

Female mosquitoes do not need a blood source for survival but do need a source of iron and protein for the development of eggs.

Male mosquitoes do not bite, to which my husband had some sarcastic comment. Male mosquitoes mate with females one to two days after the females emerge.

Most mosquitoes are active during twilight hours and at night, but around the home, the variety known as the tiger mosquito, which breeds in discarded containers, is active during the day.

Pesticides are only a short-term solution to nuisance mosquito problems. You can help reduce mosquito populations by eliminating or properly maintaining these problem spots:

• Empty or discard containers, old tires or anything that can hold stagnating water.
• If you use barrels or containers to collect rainwater to water gardens, cover them with screening to keep out mosquitoes. Keep the screens clear of debris.
• Treat decorative ponds and pools with products containing the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis.
• Dump excess water from saucers under outdoor flower pots.
• Flush the water out of bird baths at least twice weekly.
• Store boats, canoes and other objects so they don't collect rainwater. Remove water that collects in depressions in tarpaulins covering boats and other objects.
• Cover or drain unused swimming pools.
• Keep rain gutters free of leaves and other debris that prevent water from draining.
• Correct drainage problems in your yard that allow rainwater to pool in low-lying areas.
• Fill tree holes to keep them from being used as breeding sites.
• Remove debris (or report drainage problems) in ditches and culverts along private or public roadways.

Dragonflies eat mosquitoes at all stages of development. They are quite effective in controlling populations.

Although bats and purple martins also consume these insects, they typically make up less than 1 percent of their typical diet. Neither bats nor purple martins are known to control or even significantly reduce mosquito populations.

Use insect repellents for some personal protection from mosquitoes. Many of these products contain DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide). Select the desired formulation (lotion, aerosol spray or cream) containing the highest percent of active ingredient, as stated on the product label, and apply it to exposed skin.

My nephew, 9, could be the new sales representative for the makers of OFF! He told my daughter she should have had on an OFF! Clip-On to keep the mosquitoes away.

Ah, the selling power of commercials.

Contact Karen Neill, an agricultural extension agent with the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, at 375-5876 or karen_neill@ncsu.edu