LONG BEACH, Calif. - Everything is lush and blooming right now and while that is beautiful, it means a lot of work for one Long Beach department.

It takes only about a week for a mosquito to go from egg to adult.

Lamar Rush works with insects every day. He’s been with the Long Beach Vector Control Program for more than two decades. Experts like him call mosquitoes 'vectors,' because they can carry disease.

His dad worked in the same department.

“I help save lives, keep people safe from all these diseases that mosquitoes carry,” said Rush.

All the rain Southern California has had this year might lead to more mosquitoes than usual, since they thrive in standing water.

So far this year there have been no cases of West Nile virus in Los Angeles County. Last year the City of Long Beach had no reported cases of West Nile. But to maintain this track record the Vector Control Department needs steady funding.

They’re sending out ballots to some homeowners. It’s a yes or no question for a new tax. The proposed assessment rate for most single-family homes would be $8.21 per year.

Kathleen Bolton already turned in her ballot.

“I live very close to the wetlands so I thought it was a good idea that if the city says they need that money, then I’m going to give it to them so they can do their job,“ said Bolton.

New and invasive mosquito species have recently shown up in Long Beach including the yellow fever mosquito and the Asian tiger mosquito, which can carry West Nile.

Rush and his team work on land and water to make sure mosquitoes don’t become a problem. He’s on the frontline of a never ending battle.