As mosquito numbers continue to climb in the capital region, city crews are still trying to tackle the problem at its roots.
The city has completed a third round of spraying for mosquito larvae, covering nearly 11,000 hectares, more than twice the area covered last year.
Still, the city's light traps are showing that mosquito numbers have jumped to an average of 1,124 mosquitoes between July 12 and 18. Crews counted about 569 the previous week.
The count is the highest in about twenty years.
“We’re looking at numbers that are significantly higher than the last decade or two decades,” pest control manager Mike Jenkins said Friday.
“We really don’t know if this is the peak, or if we’re going down.”
The city is considering a fourth round of spraying, targeting mosquito larvae in the standing pools of water where they breed.
Another round of treatment for the larvae would cost the city around $200,000. The city has already spent three quarters of the year’s budget for mosquito control.
“Council would expect us to do the number of applications that are warranted,” general manager of community services Linda Cochrane said Friday. “We will do that based on weather conditions, and based on helicopter availability.”
Some positive news for city officials, there has been a decrease in the number of mosquito larvae in areas treated in previous rounds.
The city is only treating adult mosquitoes in areas where festivals and other outdoor activities will be held.
Crews sprayed in Hawrelak Park ahead of the ITU Triathlon, and the area beneath the Edmonton Indy grandstands was also sprayed.
At this time, city officials say the mosquito species responsible for carrying West Nile has not been found in the city, and the species that would normally be out during daylight hours is disappearing.
However, the species which normally comes out during sunrise and sunset is still around.
More information on the City of Edmonton's mosquito control program is available online.
With files from Scott Roberts
