Sloshy, Wet Spring Leads to More Mosquitoes Throughout Central Massachusetts

Winter went out with a splash… A splash that comes from all the melting snow. Right after that spring comes in wet as well with extra rainfall. All this water is creating an excellent breeding ground for mosquitoes. Kaitlyn O’Donnell, an entomologist at the Norfolk County Mosquito Control District, tells the Patriot Ledger that they’ve already started collecting adult mosquitoes to survey what the effects could be this summer. They are seeing higher numbers of mosquitoes around rivers and floodplains. Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water of all kinds so it’s an easy assumption that more adult mosquitoes and heavy amounts of water will lead to a larger mosquito population all summer long.

MOSQUITOES AND DISEASE

West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis are both dangerous diseases carried by mosquitoes that have been present in Massachusetts in the past. More mosquitoes could raise the risk of the spread of these. O’Donnell says that West Nile is more prevalent in hot dry summers, but at this point, it is really too early to tell what the risk level could be.

Stephen Rich, professor of microbiology and director at the Laboratory of Medical Zoology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, also weighed in with the Ledger on mosquito illness. He says that West Nile and EEE are still very rare here and that even if infected only a few people are likely to get sick. However, a risk of illness or not, mosquitoes are no fun to have around. The buzzing, the biting, the itching can ruin your outdoor events, your yard renovations and even just a short time spent outside. This year you are going to want to be as proactive as possible when it comes to keeping mosquitoes at bay. Here are a few things you should keep in mind:

• Always use EPA registered bug treatment when outdoors. The EPA will help you decide which one is right for you. Just visit their website.
• Keep your yard free of standing water, yard refuse, and anything that can create a mosquito habitat. Follow the 5Ts of mosquito control.  
• Create awareness in your community. Even if you are doing all you should in your own yard, areas close by that aren’t being contained will leave mosquitoes spilling over into your outdoor spaces. Neighborhood plans can cut down on mosquito populations as a whole.

At Sub:BusinessName}, we want to cut down on mosquito activity to avoid the risk of disease and also just to eliminate the aggravation that mosquitoes cause. Our mosquito control treatments can be the simplest, most effective way to keep you protected. We would love to discuss them with you. Call us today.