This column is more on the serious side than normal, not that I try for out and out levity in any column. It's just that gardening should be fun, and fun to read about. I hope.

Let's talk about mosquitoes, those pesky creatures that suck our blood.

Mosquitoes were just annoying pests until a couple of years ago when it was discovered that they carry West Nile Virus (WNV). Now, they are serious creatures.

Before someone writes in, yes I do know that St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) is carried by mosquitoes and is a serious disease. But the quantity of cases of SLE compared to WNV is so small.

WNV is unique in that it affects mainly birds, horses and humans. Mosquitoes seldom, if ever, pick up the virus from horses or humans because the virus does such a poor job of replicating itself. That leaves the birds to provide the primary infection.

This is what happens.

The mosquito bites the birds, and infects them with the virus. The virus replicates itself rapidly in the bird. The next mosquito that comes along sucks more blood from the bird and picks up the virus. At this point, the mosquito is a strong carrier of the disease, ready to find something else to bite. In the process, the virus is injected again.

The primary culprit is the house mosquito (Culex pipiens). And in some parts of the United States, the flood mosquito may also carry the disease.

House mosquitoes are active from dusk to dawn. They can multiply quickly from egg to larva to adult in about two weeks.

Eggs are laid on stagnant, yucky, pukey, gross, ugly water that doesn't flow. You may be able to find 40 to 400 eggs floating on the surface. Within five to seven days, they hatch. The larvae swim around in the water and eat the organic matter present, pupate and become adults.

Making sure water doesn't collect and stand any place on your property is the best solution. Check gutters and make sure they flow cleanly. Turn over old tanks or cans so they don't collect water. Punch holes in the bottom of tires or cover with a tarp. Check tire swings and wading pools.

Keep ditches mowed and free flowing. Check wheelbarrows and sprinkling cans. Nothing should collect water except a cistern.

Don't get a bug light or ultrasound device. Neither has been shown to work. The bug light might actually attract more insects in your yard.

Make sure window screens are secure and mended. While it might feel nice to pop open the windows during a summer evening and enjoy the breeze, realize that the mosquitoes are active during the evening. (They rest during the day in bushes, trees, shrubs, weeds and other protected locations.)

My favorite non-working way to control mosquitoes is the mosquito plants, usually a form of scented geranium. Do people really think that one little plant can create an invisible force field 100 miles wide and 100 miles tall that will keep out mosquitoes? The pests will just fly around the plants. I guess if you wanted to put a zillion plants around you, creating a wall, you might have some luck.

As your body releases carbon dioxide, you are actually a mosquito-magnet. The more activity in the evening, which means the more you exhale and sweat, the more likely you will attract the mosquitoes. However, that is not an excuse to forego work that the spouse or kids might want you to do — just an alternative.

Many of the mosquito repellents that contain DEET (listed on the label) are the best choice when evening activity is planned. Cover your exposed skin adequately. Read and follow the directions on the label to the letter.

Finally, check on your neighbors, family and friends, especially the elderly. They are more prone to WNV They may need some help to make sure gutters are clean and weeds kept down.

For more information, check out the University of Illinois Web site at www.ipm.uiuc.edu.

David Robson is an Extension Educator, Horticulture, at the Springfield Extension Center, University of Illinois Extension, P.O. Box 8199, Springfield, IL 62791.

Telephone: (217) 782-6515. E-mail: drobson@uiuc.edu

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