Winnipeggers targeted by mosquitoes with painful poke

More rain overnight in Winnipeg means moremosquitoes are likelyon the wayand the bites might feel more painful than usual.

"These ones are little nasty biters; they're calledAedesvexan," saidpest control specialist Taz Stuart, who used to be the City of Winnipegentomologist.

"It's a nuisance mosquito which, when they bite into your skin or their little proboscis goes into your skin, it actually hurts."

The reason for the pain is that the mosquito's proboscis is marked with little barbs.

"So when it enters your skin, it actually rips," Stuart said.

And you might as well get used to it because Mother Nature has been in a mood to producethe little biters. The city's trap counts have beenclimbing over the past few days thanks to all of the thunderstorm-produced puddles around the city provide great breeding grounds.

"We've had lots of thunderstorms, rainstorms, and it's also been very warm and hot. Therefore you're seeing those numbers increase," Stuart said.

• Mosquito trap counts in Winnipeg

This time of year is also prime time for Culextarsalismosquitoes, Stuart said.Their bite doesn't sting as much, but they do have the potential to carry West Nile virus.

And they're sneaky, Stuart said.

"When you're sitting there on your deck having a pop, you won't feel them. They'll bite your ankles, your wrists. They're very, very mild, meekbiters," he said.

Stuart's advice to make yourself less of a target? Get rid of any standing water in your yard and cut down on those breeding areas.

"Dump it, drain it," he said.