A warmer-than-average winter has led to a pretty scary prediction for summer in Georgia. Scientists warn that pest populations are set to explode this spring and summer due to the unseasonal winter warmth. Ticks, mosquitoes and other bugs will likely be arriving in large numbers this season.

Jim Fredericks, Chief Entomologist and Vice President of Technical and Regulatory Affairs at the National Pest Management Association, has stated that this summer will be incredibly buggy, which means that cases of insect-borne illnesses like Lyme disease are likely to increase.

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So why does a mild winter lead to lots of ticks and mosquitoes? During the cold months, the drop in temperature usually means a low survival rate for insects and their eggs. When the winter is mild, more survive until spring. This means there are more around to breed and buzz once the mercury starts to rise.

Though these predictions are definitely not what we wanted to hear, there are ways to make sure you and your family are as safe and comfortable as possible this spring and summer. Be sure to perform frequent tick checks on anyone who has been out in the woods or fields, wear light-colored clothing to deter creepy crawlers and be liberal with the bug spray.

Check out this link for daily mosquito activity reports near you.

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