We know you feel it too. The spontaneous stings, the itchy welts, the drone of mosquitoes circling your head like tiny, unwelcome helicopters—it’s enough to drive anyone indoors. Houston’s mosquito population is booming, and thanks to weird weather patterns and all that rain during and after Hurricane Beryl, these pesky biters are out in full force this summer.

Dr. Maximea “Max” Vigilant, director of Harris County Public Health’s Mosquito and Vector Control Division, has a front-row seat to this mosquito madness and blames a perfect storm of climatic factors.

“After heavy rains, floods, and hurricanes, we see an increase in the number of floodwater mosquitoes in Harris County,” Vigilant says. “Floodwater mosquitoes love to lay eggs in dirt, mud, soft, marshy areas, [and] grassy areas during the winter; hopefully, they can emerge in summer. However, with the changing climate we have seen, the floodwater mosquitoes emerged earlier. So, it is presenting as so much more.”

The warmer temperatures earlier in the year coupled with the wetness of late spring and early summer accelerated the insect’s life cycle, leading to a sooner and more intense mosquito season. Vigilant and his team are on the ground daily working to keep the population of these bloodsuckers in check. Their work involves a combination of surveillance, testing, treatment, and public education.

“On a daily basis, we collect mosquito species, we identify them, we separate them by public health importance, and we test them for mosquito-borne viruses,” Vigilant says. “We do surveillance using our inspectors and treat bodies of water that are ridden with larvae, to reduce the emergence of mosquitoes.”

The team also does home inspections for residents who report mosquito infestations, providing essential services to identify and eliminate breeding sites. But their most crucial weapon in the fight against these flying fiends is public awareness. “We educate the people on how best they can help us to help them,” Vigilant says.

One of the key messages Vigilant emphasizes is the importance of eliminating standing water around homes and yards. Even a small amount of water can be a breeding ground for hundreds of mosquitoes. He recommends residents empty birdbaths frequently and turn over any containers that collect rainwater. And don’t forget EPA-approved insect repellent to spray your yard, outdoor deck and furniture, and of course, your skin.

While mosquitoes are a nuisance, the greater concern is the diseases they can carry. This year, Harris County is seeing an uptick in one particular culprit.

“West Nile virus is endemic to Harris County, and we get it every year,” Vigilant says. But the agency has a new testing platform that provides a clearer and quicker picture of the virus’s prevalence. “We’ve found a high number of mosquito pools testing positive for West Nile virus.”

A mosquito pool consists of up to 50 mosquitoes collected in a single vial and tested for the presence of viruses. By analyzing these mosquito pools, Vigilant and his team can more efficiently track the spread of West Nile and other mosquito-borne illnesses. So far, more than 500 vials have tested positive for West Nile virus.

This new testing platform, a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), has transformed their ability to monitor mosquito populations. It offers a significant leap forward compared to its predecessor, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). “The qPCR is five times more sensitive than ELISA. Within six to eight hours, we can get results,” Vigilant says. “We can test more samples at one setting and it gives us the opportunity to get to test samples with a higher degree of sensitivity.”

While the battle against itchy bites and potential viruses rages on, there’s another side to the mosquito story. As Dr. Vigilant points out, these buzzing nuisances play a role in the local ecosystem.

“Mosquitoes are providing food and nutrients to other creatures. The other part of their structure is to bother humans because they need a blood meal from mammals in order for them to keep the generation going,” Vigilant says.

It’s a complex web of life, and complete eradication of mosquitoes—however badly we want it—wouldn’t be desirable. However, this doesn’t mean we have to suffer their presence unchecked. Instead, it’s about finding a balance where we can coexist without compromising human health. This is where the ongoing research plays a vital role.

But in the meantime, the city’s mosquito expert encourages residents to take cues from him by being…vigilant: stay protected, clear out stagnant water, and report any infestations. Here’s to a Houston where these monsters (OK, we’re just mad) are managed, and outdoor activities can be enjoyed without the constant fear of being eaten alive.