The victim — anything with blood coursing through its veins. The symptoms — red, itchy bumps on the skin. The perpetrator — a mosquito who made off with its victims’ blood — and left the victim scratching his or her legs for the rest of the day.

As temperatures rise, mosquitos and other pests begin to come out in full force.

According to Michael Waldvogel, an extension specialist in the entomology department, there are various precautionary tactics students can employ to keep these pests to a minimum.

Mosquitoes

He said in the Raleigh area, unlike coastal areas where mosquitos breed in swampy vegetation, mosquitoes breed in containers.

Most prevalent in the area are Asian tiger mosquitoes, according to Waldvogel. Waldvogel said these flying pests breed in “objects that fill with water — even bird baths.”

Even abandoned tires, he said, can serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Keeping objects like this to a minimum around the yard or apartment building can be more effective than common repellent sprays.

Ants

Another type of warm weather pest are the known picnic wrecker — ants.

Argentine ants, which are most prevalent in California but also inhabit North Carolina, are rarely seen in winter according to John Brightwell, a doctoral student in entomology.

“They definitely come out in the summer,” he said.

These exotic ants, natives of northern Argentina and Brazil, cause problems because of their sheer abundance.

“They’re really more of a nuisance. They don’t sting, they bite but you usually don’t feel it,” he said.

According to Brightwell, these small brown ants “have a tendency to get into everything” including sugar bowls, jars and pet food.

Once the Argentine ants make their homes where they are not welcome, Brightwell said pest control experts or bait can eliminate the problem, but it takes a while.

“The best way to keep them out of your house is to keep it clean,” he said.

Waldvogel said trash and recycling receptacles outside the home can also lead to ant problems.

“Especially around here, if you toss a lot of beer cans and pizza boxes into trash cans … [they are a] big attraction for ants as well,” Waldvogel said.

Odorous ants, which are named for their tendency to smell like rotten coconuts, are common in the area but do not typically cause problems, Brightwell said.

Fire ants, though, have the ability to sting and, according to Brightwell, the result “hurts quite a bit.”

He said these red ants tend to come out in large numbers this time of year.

Ticks

“Right now, before you get down to studying for exams — ticks are out in abundance,” Waldvogel said.

He said ticks become a problem when hikers or runners stray from a cleared path in the woods.

“They are sitting there waiting for a meal, so when you walk through the vegetation that’s when they get on your pants or legs,” he said.

To prevent this, Waldvogel said it is best to tuck pants into socks to block access to the skin.

“You’re going to look like a dork,” Waldvogel joked.

But, committing a fashion crime may be worth avoiding a tick bite.

Also, problems can be avoided by careful attention to the path while walking in the woods and the use of repellents on both clothing and skin.

However, if a tick does bite, the affects vary.

The “majority of tick bites don’t amount to anything other than a local irritation,” Charles Apperson, extension specialist for entomology, said.

There are a few different diseases ticks carry, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme disease, and ehrlichosis.

Apperson said one third of the cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever reported to the U.S. Center for Disease Control are North Carolina residents.

But, on the whole, contracting a disease from a tick bite is a rare occurrence.

“When you figure that only two or three people per 10,000 population are infected after a tick bite, they are fairly rare,” he said. “But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t worry.”

If someone is bitten by a tick, one should pull the tick away from the skin with gradual force and with a paper towel or tissue. Then, record the date of the bite in case of flu symptoms in the following days or weeks.

Roaches

According to Waldvogel, roaches that are commonly found in homes are not affected by seasonal changes.

He said small roaches — known as the German cockroach — are tropical by origin but have adapted to living with humans.

But, he said large, flying roaches are seen outdoors in warm seasons.

Waldvogel said roaches are typically controlled by sanitation.

“When people are around and trash is collecting, that’s when your big problems develop,” he said.

Although the common indoor roaches are not affected by warm weather, he said it is important to avoid spreading them while moving out of residence halls or apartments for the summer.

“When you are packing to go home — make sure you aren’t packing roaches with you,” he said.