Edmonton's dry weather a factor in lower mosquito count: expert
If you have noticed fewer mosquitos than normal while out on a stroll in Edmonton’s river valley, it's largely due to the lack of precipitation, an expert says.
Weather conditions this spring have been hot and dry, making the environment less suitable for mosquitos, according to Pest Management Coordinator for the City of Edmonton Mike Jenkins. He said the lack of rain has resulted in a delayed need for the mosquito patrol program.
“This season has been one of our strangest in terms of mosquito population. This has been the second year in 40 something years we haven’t had a spring program,” said Jenkins.
Edmonton has close to 30 different types of mosquitos but both the spring and summer pests have been fewer in count. At the moment, the program has completed very little ground treatment and is undecided on whether the helicopter will be used for aerial treatment targeting mosquito heavy areas.
“We have just begun to see the first mosquitos of the season starting to emerge,” he said, adding the spring mosquitos are very low in number and he is not expecting more.
“Typically we need about 30 to 40 milimetres to really trigger a substantial widespread hatch of mosquitos,” he said.
With July nearing, Jenkins says Edmontonians might start to see more of the summer mosquito, which he describes as small and stealthy – the kind that nip your ankle.
For Scott Adams, an Edmonton resident who enjoys exercising outside, he said the lack of mosquitos is a positive.
“Considering we’ve been inside for how many months. We want to get out and the last thing we want is to be shoved back in because the mosquitos are outside,” he said.
Although the pesky insects may be seen as a nuisance, they are important an important species.
“Mosquitos are a good food source for a lot of other organisms so they have an important role in the ecosystem. They are also pollen eaters,” said Jenkins.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.