Warning: Illinois Mosquitoes Are Out for Blood (Literally)

I'd like to personally fight every mosquito that comes in my path.  Period.

Not sure what's up with all the mosquitoes this year, but they've been eating me alive every time I step foot outside.  Honestly, I think I've gotten more mosquito bites sitting in my house than going outside.  Weird, right?

This year is different.  There are way more mosquitoes than ever before, at least that's what it feels like.  I just want lightning bugs, not blood-suckin' little devils.

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Being allergic to mosquito bites isn't fun either.  One little bite and I blow up like a balloon.  Sure, it could be a compliment that I have delicious blood, but I'd like to keep it in my body.  I'm like a magnet... why?!

"Mosquitoes are attracted to any smell that alerts them that you're a viable 'host', like the carbon dioxide you breathe out, which lets them know you're a living being with a blood supply they can feed on." [mattressnextday]

If you live in Illinois, love summer, but absolutely despise mosquitoes, you can probably relate when I say this: You know it's bad when you consider wearing jeans and long sleeve tees outside when it's 80 degrees out.

Warning: Illinois Mosquitoes Are Out for Blood (Literally)

Swatting the air, slapping your legs, scratching your bites, trying to get the itching to stop every 30 seconds... not fun.  Not fun at all.  Bug spray barely ever works, too.  So that doesn't help!

Some years are worse for mosquitoes than others, and this mainly depends on the amount of precipitation we get throughout the summer. Summers with more rainfall and higher temperatures typically mean we’ll see higher mosquito populations. Due to the rising global temperatures, mosquito season seems to get a little bit longer and more bothersome year over year. [crisstermite]

If you've been thinking that mosquitoes have been pretty bad this summer, you're not wrong.  We have the perfect mix of rain, humidity, and summer heat to bring out the worst in mosquitoes.

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Here's how you can try to keep these little buggers away:

• Put itronella, peppermint, lavender, or lemon eucalyptus around the house
• Mosquito sprays to deter them from coming near you
• Eliminating standing water sources
• Utilize screens and netting

What's your remedy to prevent mosquitoes from biting?