JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- There's something in the air -- a buzz around town -- swarms of blood-sucking mosquitoes are hitting our city.

After weeks of heavy rains, standing water is all over town. And that's where mosquitoes breed.

Richard Smith with the city of Jacksonville mosquito control department said, "It's extraordinary, we've got an unusual combination."

The city's mosquito control is ready to fight in the air and on the ground.

Smith said you are the first line of defense. The folks at mosquito control said there is a way to protect yourself. Empty out any standing water you have around the house and use a mosquito repellant containing deet. You also want to avoid being outside at dawn and dusk, which is meal time for bloodsuckers. You can even get your yard treated -- putting the kibosh on the blood buffet.

Another issue of concern, according to Smith, is that mosquitoes can carry different diseases. Private pest control companies can treat standing water to kill the eggs. They can also spray shrubs and bushes to kill the adults, already out on the prowl.

No matter what you do, mosquito control says this is Florida -- the bloodsuckers were here first -- aren't going anywhere.

Below are some links to local mosquito control districts:

City of Jacksonville http://www.coj.net/Departments/Environmental+and+Compliance/Mosquito+Control/default.htm

St. Johns County http://www.amcdsjc.org

Clay County http://www.claycountygov.com/Departments/Public_Works/Mosq_Control.htm

Nassau County http://www.nassaucountyfl.com/index.aspx?NID=226