Bumper crop

There’s a side effect of the rains and flooding in the Midwest this year, and only within the last few days has it become painfully obvious – mosquitoes. Record rainfall and moisture has activated zillions of dormant mosquito eggs – some that have been lying around for several years – guaranteeing a bumper crop of the bloodsucking pests and raising concerns about the spread of the West Nile virus.

The mosquitoes that are likely to carry the virus typically don’t hatch until mid-July, and only when hot, humid weather ensues. Thus far, the National Weather Service is calling for a cooler than normal July in Illinois, raising some cautious optimism.

In the photo above, that’s my knuckle being sacrificed in the name of art. I was out photographing some flowers and potential models swarmed over me. I got the shot while this one got a snack.

Update: Roger, from whom I got the inspiration to get a shot of a bitin' varmint, has posted some of his skeeter pics at his blog, Listing Through Life. More closer up than this one, and in better light, no less.

Click on picture to enlarge. Photograph © 2008 James Jordan.