Regina mosquito count 3 times higher than average

The bug zappers are going crazy around Regina as standing water lingers, providing perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The City of Regina’s mosquito traps caught about 77 mosquitoes last week  — which is three times higher than the historical average for this time of the year. The city also identified a few Culex mosquitoes which can carry diseases like West Nile or encephalitis.

The city’s Jun. 18-22 mosquito traps caught three times as many mosquitoes than the normal average for this time of year. (City of Regina/Website)

Manager of Forestry, Pest Control and Horticulture, Russell Eirich, said the mosquito populations are booming because of standing water after a downpour of rain in early June.

“We’re in that hot, rain, hot, rain cycle, so that’s keeping the water bodies that are feeding the mosquitoes,” Eirich commented.

While the swarms of pests are annoying, the city wants to warn people about the presence of the mosquitoes that can carry disease.

“It’s just a trace that we’re getting right now, but it’s enough of a trace to know that they’re out there,” he said.

Eirich said this isn’t unusual, but they are seeing this species of mosquitoes about a week later than normal.

The city will continue to treat standing water bodies, but there are also things residents can do to bring down the mosquito count.

Eirich said if you have a bucket of water sitting in your backyard, drain it. An ice cream pail filled with water can produce thousands of mosquitoes.

To protect yourself he said to use bug spray or a zone repellent and to wear light-coloured loose-fitting clothing when outside in the evenings.

“It’s all about changing our habits so we know how to deal with mosquitoes properly,” Eirich said.

The city will continue to track mosquito numbers until mid-Sept.