Did a recent visit to the beach or your own backyard get you thinking there might be more mosquitoes this year in northern Michigan? If so, you're right.

“We have three times the amount of mosquitoes compared to the last couple years," reports Dale Litney, owner of Mosquito Squad of Northern Michigan, whose phones have been ringing off the hook this season. "And now they’re all coming at once," he says. "Both spring and summer species. There doesn’t seem to be any respite.”

With more than fifty species of mosquitoes native to Michigan, every year has potential to witness a massive swarm of these pests. In fact, according to Michigan State University entomologist Howard “Bug Man” Russell, our early summers are typically rife with mosquitoes. He says this year promises to be much worse, considering the early spring’s heavy rains and the late spring’s warmer evening temperatures (if you want to impress your friends with Michigan mosquito trivia: According to Russell, Aedes Vexans is the species expected to make us the most miserable this year).

“Mosquito eggs can lay dormant for years and hatch once water levels reach the egg. With all the rain... [in early spring] it’s brutal,” Litney says of this year's breed.

A high mosquito population is especially troubling given the increasing prevalence of West Nile Virus, which is transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Michigan— with a jump from 34 cases in 2011 to 202 in 2012—was one of seven states that accounted for 62% of reported cases of the virus in 2012, according to the CDC.

In honor of National Mosquito Awareness Week (this week), Litney shares with Ticker readers the "five Ts" for dealing with mosquitoes:

Tip. Reduce standing water in sandboxes, wagons, plastic toys, plant sauces, dog bowls, and gutters. Also check around downspouts, flat roofs, and low ground under porches. “Even a bottle cap holding water can yield thousands of mosquitoes if allowed to sit for a few weeks,” says Litney. “Treatment is only so effective if causes aren’t removed.”

Toss. Remove lawn debris, which creates areas for water to accumulate. Mosquitoes hang out in shrubbery, foliage, and high, uncut grass.

Turn. Turn over larger yard items that could hold water.

Remove Tarps. Tarps covering firewood piles, boats, sports equipment and grills are holding water if they aren’t pulled taut. Shake out tarps immediately following rainstorms.

Treat. Apply a mosquito elimination barrier treatment around the home and yard. Spraying the area before eggs and larvae hatch will mean much fewer adults.

If the summer rains are heavy, Russell says the mosquito population will remain high. To avoid bites, use a standard insect repellent (containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or para-menthane-diol) or oil of lemon-eucalyptus and wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Waiting it out is not really a useful plan of attack—at least for the next several weeks, mosquitoes are expected to thrive.