Rainfall Causes More Bugs Across Mid-State

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - For the year, rainfall in Nashville was three inches above normal. The experts said there could be more mosquitoes, but other insects could also be a problem this summer.

Lots of rain means green grass and a ton of flowers, but it could also mean more bugs.

Frank Hale is the state's entomologist, he studies bugs for a living and said mosquitoes are the biggest concern.

"We have the potential to have a lot of mosquitoes this year, and with mosquitoes can come disease. We've got West Nile, Encephalitis," said Hale.

Hale had been getting a lot of calls from people complaining about cut worms. In one garden the insects destroyed entire tomato plants.

"They come out at night. They feed on the plants. In this case they'll actually clip them off, drag part of the plant material under ground or under a dirt clod and spend the day feeding on them," said Hale.

Hale said a good insecticide will get rid of the worms. He said it was less likely to see the worm and more likely to see the damage they leave behind.

Around the house there are crane flies. The insect has two wings, they look like mosquitoes, but they do not bite and they are harmless.

Adult crane flies have a life span of 5 to 10 days.

For more information on insects and how to get rid of them, click here