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This year's wet spring means more bugs

How to keep those pesky bugs away from your home

ST. LOUIS — This year’s wet spring is causing an influx of bugs. This year is particularly bad.

Mosquito Squad, a pest control company, ranked St. Louis the 9th worst city in the country for mosquitoes this year.

Rottler Pest & Lawn Solutions said they have received 40 percent more calls this year than last year.

Jay Everitt, the company’s technical director, said the three worst types of bugs right now are mosquitoes, ants and termites.

He said the colder winter and damp spring is partially to blame.

This year’s rain is causing standing water in many areas and that boosts to mosquito population.

“Mosquitoes have to have moisture or standing water to reproduce. Basically, that female lays eggs in the water. They then develop in the water and that process can happen in as little as seven days,” said Everitt.

Everitt suggested emptying out any items that can collect standing water like bird feeders, buckets and dog bowls.

Home Killer is an insect repellent that can be used on lawns.

To keep mosquitoes from biting, Everitt suggests using a bug repellent that has deet in it.

RELATED: VERIFY: Are mosquitoes really the deadliest animals on earth?

RELATED: Do cold temps mean fewer bugs?

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