Did you know South Dakota is home to the most deadly creature on Earth, and very soon this sneaky, little bloodsucker will be on the prowl once again looking for its next victim.

One of Earth's deadliest creatures is also one of its smallest, and might I add one of its most annoying. Of course, I'm talking about mosquitoes, and before too long, South Dakota will be full of them again.

Warmer weather is right around the corner, and unfortunately, that also means, so is itching season.

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These pesky little pests are warming up in the bullpen, and will soon be coming out to play for another spring and summer insect season.

In my opinion, mosquitoes are the only downside to the warm weather months and something a person shouldn't take lightly.

Believe it or not according to the World Health Organization, nearly 725,000 people each year meet their maker thanks to mosquito-borne diseases like, Malaria, West Nile, and Yellow Fever. That is a real suck, no pun intended.

Mosquito season is just a few weeks away in South Dakota. According to the folks with Terminix, the typical mosquito season in a Midwestern state like South Dakota runs from May through September.

Optimal mosquito weather is 70 degrees Fahrenheit, however, once the temp consistently reaches 50 degrees and above, these little blood suckers get the urge to come out and feast, and feast they will. If you're like me, you end up being an all-you-eat breakfast buffet for these little bastards during the warm weather months.

What can a person do to help prevent them from snacking on you?

Again, the folks at Terminix recommend you avoid areas with standing water at all costs. Mosquitoes breed in and near standing water. That can be anything from a dog dish to a large body of water like a lake.

You also need to do your best to protect yourself during the two times each day that mosquitoes are the most active. That would be at dawn and again at dusk. If you need to be outside during that time, experts recommend you wear pants, long-sleeved shirts, and a protective coating of mosquito repellant whenever possible.

If mosquitoes are still bugging you and your family even after following those steps, the folks with Terminix and other pest control companies are always there to lend professional help.

Here's to hoping you can successfully ditch the mosquito itch again this spring and summer.

Source: World Health Organization/Terminix

10 Deadliest Creatures in US: South Dakota Has Lots of Them

The deadliest animal in the U.S. isn’t the alligator or bear or even the mighty shark. In fact, the answer may surprise you.

It may also surprise you how many of these creatures can be found in South Dakota.

Here's the top 10:

Seven Mind-Blowing Wonders' of South Dakota

I think most of us have at least heard of the "Seven Wonders of the Modern World." We might not be able to rattle them off as easily as McDonald's value menu items, but chances are you've heard of at least some of them, right?

There's the Great Wall of China. Chichén Itzá, a Mayan City on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The ancient city of Petra, in Jordan. Machu Picchu in Peru. Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro. The Colosseum in Rome, and finally, the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.

Every state in the nation is known for having a series of natural wonders and signature landmarks. So, I thought I would come up with my own list of the "Seven Wonders of South Dakota."

The following is what I consider to be the signature landmarks, monuments, and natural wonders that are synonymous with the great state of South Dakota. I tried to give both sides of the state a little love while comprising this list.

You might have a few additions...

Let's get started. The Seven Wonders of South Dakota: