They're prowling the streets of Marietta after dark this week with a single-minded purpose: ridding the city of bloodsuckers.

Vampire hunters? No. Mosquito sprayers.

A pest control company contracted by the city of Marietta is spraying all public streets within the city limits with the insecticide Aqua-Reslin. Spraying began Monday night and should finish by Friday morning, weather permitting.

"We try to find a time when the mosquitoes are actually out and weather conditions are optimum," said Dan Conn, Marietta's director of Public Works.

He said wind conditions are factored into the spraying, and it's best if it's not raining.

The Marietta public streets are sprayed six to seven times per year.

Though you may still get mosquito bites, you might not have as many to scratch if the treatment is effective.

"It's not eliminating mosquitoes by any way shape or form," Conn said, "but it typically kills off some of the adult population and helps keep mosquitoes at bay."

For more information, call the Public Works Department at 770-794-5650.