June 12, 2023 at 11:57 a.m.
Why are the mosquitoes so bad this year?
Gargrave: Situation likely the result of record snowfall this past winter
By Trevor Greene-
North Lakeland Discovery Center naturalist and residental program liaison Hannah Gargrave, who also has a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, said the increase in mosquitoes is likely the result of the record snowfall this past winter.
Gargrave indicated the late season snowfall mixed with the back-and-forth of warm and cold temperatures in March and April also played a role.
"The repeated cycle, I think, created really good conditions for mosquito breeding," she said. "And they need that water and the melt-off from the snow to breed, that's where they lay their eggs. So, I think just the sheer amount of water we had is reflecting how many mosquitoes we had too."
Mosquitoes, she explained, lay their eggs in water, which then hatch as aquatic larva.
Dragonflies, bats, birds and frogs are just some of the predators Gargrave mentioned that consume mosquitoes.
"Honestly, within this past week, I've noticed quite a few more (dragonflies)," she said. "The dragonflies kind of have the same sort of life cycle. They're also drawn to wet areas."
According to Gargrave, male mosquitoes' life span is short; only about a week. But females are the ones that bite, she said, and their life span is longer; up to three months.
For those who spray their yard with chemicals to limit the itch, Gargrave said it's a complicated situation because some sprays affect more than just mosquitoes.
"They're going to affect all the other insects," she said. "Some of which are important pollinators that live in that area."
Gargrave said her biggest piece of advice, even though its warm, is to wear long sleeves or bug nets if you plan to be out in mosquito heavy areas.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also suggests people wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants - specifically, clothing treated with 0.5 percent permethrin.
Using insect repellant is another precaution the CDC recommends. It provides a list of repellants registered with the Environmental Protection Agency on its website.
To control mosquitoes indoors and out, the CDC says to use air conditioning and fans if available. By limiting mosquitoes from laying eggs in or near water on or by your property, the CDC also suggests once a week to empty, scrub, turn over, cover or throw away items that hold water.
Ray Christenson, assistant manager of a local hardware store, said he "absolutely" has seen an increase in sales with regard to mosquito repellant.
"Our inventory, when we get it in, it sells almost immediately," he said. "Our shelves are a lot better now, but when the mosquito crop first hatched, we could not keep enough on the shelves ... it was the week of Memorial Day."
Christenson said he had customers tell him they've "never seen (the mosquitoes) this bad" and "I can't even go outside."
He said he remembers another summer about eight years ago when the mosquitoes were just as bad.
"So, yeah, we've seen a very large increase in sales for anything to combat mosquitoes," Christenson said. "From foggers to actual bug zappers and all that stuff."
Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.