Almost everyone has had the unpleasant experience of being bitten by a mosquito. Mosquito bites can cause skin irritation through an allergic reaction to the mosquito’s saliva — this is what causes the red bump and itching.

But a more serious consequence of some mosquito bites may be the transmission of certain serious diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and several forms of encephalitis, including West Nile virus.

Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water and are most active during dawn and dusk. Effective mosquito control involves eliminating breeding sites and using protective measures to avoid bites.