DEAL ISLAND, Md.- The Maryland Department of Agriculture says the state's mosquito population is getting out of control. Officials say they current population is the most that they have seen in years.

Department of Agriculture officials say the region's heavy rainfall is causing a boost in the number of mosquitoes. Mosquito control field crews estimate the population by counting the number of females that land on the front of their bodies.

"Typically, this time of year we expect maybe 10 or 12 mosquitoes per minute. Right now. we are experiencing numbers upward toward 80-90 mosquitoes landing on us in one minute," said Daniel Schamberger, a Department of Agriculture spokesman. 

Schamberger said the mosquito population thrives during periods of heavy rain. He said areas with lots of salt marsh can become breeding grounds for the bugs.

"If we can spray the mosquitoes and knock the population back we may see some relief for several weeks but that could change. It takes one good storm or a very high tide and we could have a whole other crop of mosquitoes," Schamberger said.

The Department of Agriculture plans to continue aerial and ground sprays throughout the summer.