With summer rain come mosquitoes, and with mosquitoes come not just itchy bites but the risk of diseases such as West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, Zika virus and yellow fever, among others, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist and entomologist Tamra Reall.

Prevention

The best way to avoid getting mosquito bites around your home and yard is to empty any standing water, especially after it rains or the sprinklers run, says Reall.

These puddles, even those as small as a tablespoon, are where mosquitoes lay their eggs and the larvae grow. Water collects in flowerpots, tire swings, toys, trash, gutters, poorly drained soil and holes in trees. Empty these containers and fix drainage problems. Chlorinated and filtered swimming pools are not mosquito havens, but untreated pools are.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when working in the yard. Wear a repellant, preferably one containing DEET. Adult mosquitoes like to rest on vegetation, so keep grass mowed to eliminate potential hiding places. Make sure door and window screens are in good condition. Use a fan to create a breeze. Mosquitoes are not strong flyers, so a light breeze can keep them away.

Avoid spraying lawns and using foggers. Mosquitoes can develop resistance to sprays and quickly infest the area again. Foggers may be effective for only a few hours and contain pesticides that kill helpful insects, including pollinators and mosquito predators.

Field tests show that bug zappers and ultrasonic pest eliminators are not effective ways to attract and kill mosquitoes.

The Missouri Department of Conservation recommends using nontoxic mosquito dunks and pellets for areas with stagnant water. These are safe for animals, beneficial insects and the environment.

Treatment

If you get a mosquito bite, wash the affected area with soap and water. To reduce swelling and itching, apply an ice pack for 10 minutes; reapply as needed.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends this at-home treatment:

• Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with just enough water to create a paste. Apply the paste then wash it off after 10 minutes.
• Use an over-the-counter antihistamine or anti-itch cream.
• Consult a health care provider if you develop a fever or pain.

Kansas’ new state park already has “crystal clear blue water” and miles of trails, and it is now closer to having more amenities.

Kansas lawmakers last year created Lehigh Portland State Park in Iola. Now, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is working on infrastructure improvements around the 138-acre lake on a nearly 360-acre property.

The state is bidding out contracts to construct a visitor’s center, a limestone campground, a shale campground and such infrastructure as water, sewer and roads.

When Gov. Laura Kelly ceremonially signed the bill last year, Brad Loveless, the then-secretary of KDWP, indicated more work was needed.

He said: “Tremendous value is being added to Kansas’ already world-class state parks system in the form of a beautiful lake and quality trails. While I know this property is going to be an instant hit with our park-goers, I also know that our park staff’s plans for development will make it even more inviting in the very near future.”

What Lehigh Portland infrastructure work is KDWP bidding out?

The state government contracting portal shows KDWP has four open requests for proposals. The agency is looking for contractors to build the following:

• A limestone campground.
• A shale campground.
• A visitor’s center.
• Infrastructure, including water, sewer, a lagoon and roads.

If you’re going fishing in Kansas anytime soon, you may want to double check what kind of fish you’re catching before you decide to throw them back.

That’s because your catch could be one of Kansas’ many invasive species that the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is trying to eradicate.

“[Invasive species are] usually either causing harm or has the potential to cause harm, whether that’s ecologically, environmentally or economically,” said Michael Parr, an aquatic invasive species biologist with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

If there are invasive species known in any body of water, there will be signs posted with additional information.

“Those alert signs will have a picture of whatever species are present there,” Parr said.

The department’s eradication efforts depend on the species, Parr said. For some, employees manually remove as many of them as possible. The department has also held fishing events in the past for anglers to help remove invasive species.

Here’s what to know about invasive aquatic species in Kansas and what you can do to help.

What are some of the most common invasive fish in Kansas?

Common carps, bighead carps, silver carps, rusty crayfish and white perches are some of the fish you may see around Kansas that are actually invasive.

Of those, Parr said the common carp is probably the most common.

While this species is not native to Kansas, it has become so widespread that they’ve become “naturalized.” But just because they’re common doesn’t mean they’re any less invasive, Parr said.

“People do like to fish for them … but yet they still are invasive,” Parr said. “So if you do see one, it’s good practice if you catch one, not to release it back of the water and either consume it or dispose of it.”

Adult common carps are usually gold or dark brown and have reddish fins. They also have whisker-like barbels around the mouth.

What other invasive species live in Kansas waters?

One of the most invasive species in Kansas are zebra mussels, a kind of mollusk the size of a fingernail with a zig-zagged pattern on their shells. These are native to waters in Eurasia , according to the United States Geological Survey.

This is a species that is especially hard to contain, Parr said.

“The single female mussel that’s fertilized can lay up to a million eggs per spawning season. And usually there’s two spawning seasons a year, depending on temperature,” Parr said. “Once they get established in a water body, I mean, they just take off within five years.”

What should I do if I come across an invasive species in Kansas?

If you catch an invasive fish or other aquatic species, do not throw it back into the water, Parr said.

“You would have to euthanize it or dispose of it,” Parr said.

The easiest way to help prevent the spread of invasive species is to wash your boat before bringing it on another body of water. This prevents the spread of smaller aquatic organisms from one body of water to the next.

“It’s really important to drain all the water before transporting your boat … and allowing for dry time or using a high pressure, hot water pressure washer to wash your boat trailer,” Parr said.

“Every water body that someone’s at … before they leave that water body, they should be cleaning their boat and trailer, cleaning off any mud, animals or vegetation that might be stuck on there.”

For those who don’t have access to a power washer, Parr said the wildlife department has boat cleaning stations available at several of their reservoirs around Kansas.

“We’re trying to at least have some of those available for the public to use to help that ‘Clean, drain, dry’ initiative help stop spreading those invasive species,” Parr said.