Summer time and the living is easy.

It’s also a time for caution, especially when it comes to an annoying insect that’s not only annoying, but has a reputation as a carrier of several potentially serious diseases — the mosquito.

Mosquitos are common in the south, and so numerous that some stores sell T-shirts proclaiming the buzzing insect as the “state bird,” and jokes in some areas that boast the insects are large enough to carry people away.

But these tiny insects are also dangerous, and according to the Mississippi State Department of Health are known to be carriers of five diseases — three of which can be fatal to humans and animals.

Mosquitos are known to carry West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, LaCrosse encephalitis, Eastern Equine encephalitis and Chikungunya virus.

Vicksburg’s battle against mosquitos begins in March and runs through November, mosquito abatement supervisor Tammy Jackson said.

“But we haven’t been able to get out and do a lot of work because of the weather,” she said.

The city has two spray trucks, she said, adding weather permitting, one truck works the northern part of the city and the other working the south, spraying the areas with Scourge, a pesticide product that is used to control mosquitoes in outdoor residential and recreational areas.

Jackson said there are not peak mosquito periods, adding the weather has no effect on their swarms in the area. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s wet or dry,” she said.

She said residents and property owners can help the city and themselves with keeping mosquitos under control by getting rid of standing water in items like buckets, which serve as breeding sites for the bugs, and by wearing mosquito repellant to keep the pesky bugs from biting them.

The Department of Health has some other tips:

• Avoid places and times when mosquitoes bite. Evenings and mornings have the most mosquito activity.

• Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for long periods of time, or when mosquitoes are most active. Clothing should be light colored and made of tightly woven materials to keep mosquitoes away from the skin. Pants legs should be tucked into shoes or socks, and collars should be buttoned.

• Repair failed septic systems, keep grass cut short and shrubbery trimmed. Dispose of old tires, cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots, or other unused containers that can hold water.

Change the water at least once per week in birdbaths, wading pools and other water containers on your property. Cover trash containers to keep out rainwater. Clean clogged roof gutters, particularly if leaves tend to plug up the drains.

• Repair leaky water pipes and outside faucets.

• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with predatory fish.

• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools even if they are not being used.

• Keep drains, ditches, and culverts free of grass clippings, weeds, and trash so water will drain properly.