Nottinghamshire residents are being advised to close their windows as warnings of mosquitoes carrying deadly viruses such as Zika and West Nile virus could be heading for the UK.
Health experts have warned that they could be here already.
The advice comes along with the hint of warmer weather, which brings the usual influx of flying beasties, but this year mosquitoes, which, in the UK are usually harmless, could include a variety carrying the potentially deadly Zika virus, as well another the Asian tiger mosquito.
A spokesperson for the Government's Health Protection Agency told The MIrror: "We think it is very likely that they are already here.
"They are voracious little beasts that will bite anything. In terms of disease transmission, that makes them very dangerous."
The Asian tiger mosquito bite can pass on 23 infections, including West Nile virus and dengue fever.
What should you do?
There are plenty devices and insect repellent sprays and creams on the market, but the general advice is to keep windows closed as much as possible.
However, another tip on how to deter the potentially dangerous pests came in the unlikely form of garlic.
Attracted by human sweat, mosquitoes are said to hate the scent of garlic, so it could be worth added extra to your dinner or ordering extra garlic bread.
They lay eggs in stagnant water so be alert to puddles forming in disused garden items that could act as a breeding ground.
Have they been spotted?
They are normally found in Africa, Asia, parts of the Americas and the Caribbean. However, in recent years the Zika-carrying mosquitoes have been spotted in the British countryside.
What is Zika and what are the symptoms?
While many people show no symptoms of Zika, those who do report symptoms similar to flu. They include fever, joint pain, rash, headache and muscle pain.
However, Zika can be very serious for pregnant women, leading to birth defects. It can also lead to a serious condition of the nervous system known as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).
The Asian tiger mosquito - what should I know?
The Asian tiger mosquito has already moved westwards by successfully setting up breeding colonies in Albania, Italy, France and Belgium but it is also thought to have entered Britain stowing away in used tyres being shipped from the Far East.
Government health experts have been trying out spot checks at ports and used-tyre import centres to look for the distinctive black and white striped insect.
Experts say that the insect bites throughout the day, not just in the evening, and passes on illnesses including a parasitic worm which attaches itself to the lung's arteries, causing serious breathing complications.
It also carries West Nile virus, which is especially dangerous to the young and those over 50. It has killed hundreds of people in mainland Europe and North America.
Symptoms include fever and headache, but in more severe cases inflammation of the brain, or meningitis.
The variety can also carry dengue fever. Symptoms include a sudden high fever, painful aches in the bones, joints and muscles and a rash which leaves the palms and soles of the feet bright red and swollen.
One form of dengue fever even causes internal bleeding which can be lethal if not treated.
The Asian tiger mosquito lays its eggs in banana leaves and coconut shells, which collect a little water. A used tyre provides a similar environment. Even if water dries out in transit, the eggs can still hatch once it rains, and they become moist again.
It also lays its eggs in any suitable water containers - buckets, flowerpots, even cans and bottle tops - as just a quarter-inch of water is sufficient.
Unlike other species of mosquito, this one can’t be eradicated by mass spraying or draining marshy breeding grounds. And because it stays close to the ground, children playing are particularly at risk of being bitten. It also attacks cats, dogs and other mammals as well as birds.
