City of Regina expects mosquitoes to emerge this weekend

The rainfall over the past week may have been a welcome blessing for some, but mosquitoes also are about to reap the benefits.

Russell Eirich, senior program manager for forestry, pest control and horticulture with the City of Regina, said he expects the mosquito count to rise dramatically.

“(In) last week’s trap count, before all the rains affected us, we were averaging six mosquitoes per trap; our average is 26,” Eirich said Tuesday. “We will exceed the average probably by the end of next week.”

From June 16 through Sunday, 55 millimetres of rain fell across Regina.

Standing water allows adult mosquitoes to lay more eggs. Although the bugs are currently in their larvae stage, Eirich added that in two to three days, they will start to come out as adult mosquitoes and feed.

The number is expected to increase as more mosquitoes have the opportunity to lay eggs.

“The following week, you’re going to see that rapid spike,” said Eirich, who asked the public to help in reducing the city’s mosquito count.

“I’m asking residents to go take a look (and) if you’ve been doing anything where you’ve got standing pails of water, a pail of water will create 1,000 mosquitoes.”

Residents can also reduce mosquito counts by putting netting, such as nylon, over rain barrels to prevent egg-laying.

Although mosquitoes are destined to come sooner or later, Eirich said crews are working hard to lower the mosquito counts as much as possible.

“Our crews have been out treating (water); we’ve been going at it hard. We did not shut down for the weekend,” said Eirich. “(Crews) are going to go until the emergence.”

Monitoring for Dutch elm disease

Dutch elm disease is a fungus that infects elm trees which constricts water movement upward, effectively causing the canopy of the tree to die.

Eirich said residents should be on the lookout for the disease if they have an elm tree.

“Look for any curling, wilting leaves on the trees, but the leaves themselves are not falling off,” said Eirich. “If the leaves are falling off, then it’s usually something else.”

The average number of trees that die from the disease in the city is five a year. Eirich expects the average to be the same this year, but the city has only just begun monitoring.

Eirich also warned residents not to transport elm wood throughout the province as it may contribute to the spread of the disease. It is also illegal to transport elm wood in Saskatchewan.

If residents notice any signs of Dutch elm disease on a tree, call 306-777-7000 or visit www.regina.ca. The city will assess any tree, either city or private, free of charge.