The Village of Villa Park warned residents on Tuesday, July 14, that floodwater mosquitoes hatched after the July 2–4 storms will remain active, with peak biting between dusk and dawn.

Clarke Mosquito Control, the village's contracted mosquito abatement provider, said the early July rainfall and warm weather created ideal conditions for multiple large hatches of floodwater mosquitoes across the area.

The insects are aggressive biters that can travel several miles from their breeding sites, according to Clarke. They are not associated with disease transmission.

What's being done

Clarke began treating larvae and is now timing adult applications to target peak populations. The village's alert did not specify dates or locations for the spraying.

The July 2–4 storms were a regional event. Nearby Naperville received 4 to 6.5 inches of rain from Thursday night through Saturday, National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Kluber told the Chicago Tribune. The Elgin area saw more than 5 inches, and Sugar Grove and Aurora Municipal Airport each reported more than 8 inches, per the National Weather Service. No Villa Park-specific rainfall total has been released.

What residents can do

Clarke Mosquito Control's guidance breaks into three steps:

Reduce: Dump standing water from bird baths, flower pots, and old tires. Fix torn window screens. Avoid outdoor activity between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes bite most.

Repel: Apply EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535.

Report: Log stagnant water, flooded yards, or high mosquito activity at clarkeportal.com. Residents can also sign up there for notifications about upcoming adult mosquito control applications.

The village has not said when populations will drop.