If you and your family plan on cooking out this 4th of July weekend, there's a good chance you won't be the only ones feasting! New York State is home to 70 species of mosquitoes and they are active through October. Not only are they pesky and annoying, but they also carry several types of potentially deadly viruses that can be transmitted to humans, so it's important to protect yourself and your family from their bites.

According to Laura Harrington, a professor of entomology at Cornell University,

Mosquito season generally lasts from the end of April and into October in New York state, but mosquitoes may emerge before April if the spring climate is unusually warm. Unfortunately, mosquito season has been starting earlier and ending later in northern temperate regions due to warming global temperatures.

There are no vaccines available for the viruses mosquitoes carry, which include Zika virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus, and West Nile virus. Some species of mosquitos are most active during the day, from dusk to dawn, while other species are active all day.

Mosquitoes love and need water, which is probably something you and the fam are enjoying this holiday weekend - a pool, sprinklers, or even a splash pad. All of the water toys you may be using to cool down are prime places for mosquitoes. They lay their eggs in or near water and their young spend time developing in water before they become adults. One of the best ways to keep yourself safe from mosquitoes is to eliminate "standing" water around your home. New York State's Health Department offers these tips to help keep mosquitoes away from your home:

Here's What You Can Do To Help Prevent Mosquitos Around Your Home

The New York State Department of Health offers these tips to help keep your home mosquito-free.

The key to preventing those itchy, pesky mosquito bites this holiday weekend is to be prepared and know what attracts them to your home. Follow the tips above to help keep your house and yard mosquito-free. As a matter of fact, check out who took the number one spot on the list of 'Deadliest Animals On Earth' below.

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