As director of Rocky Mount's Mosquito Control, it's Collins' job to battle the blood-sucking insects, and he's got his work cut out for him this year.
"I haven't seen mosquitoes this bad since Hurricane Floyd," said Collins.
The wet weather has turned the area into a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
"We have to treat mosquitoes on two levels; one is in the water, and one is as adults when they are flying," said Collins.
In the water, Rocky Mount workers sprinkle pesticides. In the air, they spray repellent.
Normally, mosquito control workers use one truck about five days a week. Right now, they are using two trucks about seven days a week, 10 hours each night.
David Braswell plays tennis about three nights a week, when the mosquitoes are typically their worst. He's glad the city is biting back.
"I think it's a great program, because of the mosquito-borne illnesses you can get," said Braswell.
The type of mosquitoes that carry and transmit diseases like the West Nile virus has been found in North Carolina. However, there have been no human cases in the state so far this year.
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