Edmonton mosquito population ‘remarkably low’: city scientist

After enjoying a few months of little to no mosquitos, City of Edmonton officials say the recent rain has the bugs hatching in droves.

It’s good news for backyard BBQs.

A City of Edmonton scientist says mosquito numbers are “remarkably low” despite the late spring and early summer precipitation.

“We had a very low year going into the spring, there was very little snow on the ground, very little precipitation that turned into mosquito development habitat. So we saw almost no mosquitos for most of April into May,” senior city scientist Mike Jenkins told CTV News Edmonton on Wednesday.

While there are fewer individual mosquitos this year, Jenkins said there is a greater variety.

“Usually around this time of year we see it switch almost entirely to the summer species, our standard crepuscular dawn and dusk biting little ankle-biter aedes vexans, but we’re still seeing quite a few of a lot of other (spring) species as well” he said, adding those include some “aggressive” daytime biters.

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Some of the more recent “considerable” rainfall has helped mosquito populations grow, but Jenkins said they are still remarkably low, thanks in part to the city’s treatment of breeding grounds like roadside ditches.

“The traps (outside the program area) are catching about 200 to 1,000 mosquitoes per night … that’s a significant number of mosquitoes, you’re getting quite a bit of biting,” he said. “Most of the ones within the city, we’re still getting like 10 to maybe 50 mosquitoes per night.”

Jenkins said most of the mosquitoes in the city come from breeding grounds outside of it. However, species like the common house mosquito culex pipiens can breed in backyard bird baths, water troughs or old ponds, so residents should make sure those stay clean and cleared out.

If you are already being bothered by mosquitos, Jenkins said a fan can help.

“Aedes vexans in particular doesn’t really like wind,” he added. “Having that fan going, especially if it’s an oscillating one, so it’s not a steady breeze, can greatly reduce their biting.”

More information on the City of Edmonton’s mosquito program can be found on the city’s website.