In the mosquito world, this spring and summer has provided breeding conditions equivalent to a candle-lit room with Sinatra playing in the corner and rose petals on the bed sheets.
The snowmelt, combined with a continuing wet spring and summer has left the entire region teeming with plenty of standing water, the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Residents have started to notice the mosquito population boom as they flee from backyard barbecues, sports fields and lazy hammock evenings because of incessant biting.
The city’s director of public works, Glenn Tompolski, said St. Albert doesn’t have a program to deal with the pests but crews are trying to help where they can.
“We don’t have a formal mosquito control program. We don’t have a budget or anything to manage mosquitoes.”
He said the city looks for any areas of standing water and tries to drain them wherever possible.
“With all of the water we have had, you are getting a lot of standing water sitting in areas that you wouldn’t normally see them,” he said. “As we come across those areas or notice them, and we have the time and resources, we go after them.”
Edmonton spends about $900,000 per year on a mosquito control program.
Mike Jenkins, a biological sciences technician with the City of Edmonton, said they spray insecticide designed to kill the larvae anywhere they find standing water, using backpacks, trucks and even helicopters.
He said even though the mosquito population this year is below historical average, it is much higher than it has been in several years.
“We are not used to the kind of populations that would be considered average for the Edmonton area. We haven’t see those numbers for a decade or more.”
Jenkins said Edmonton’s program is geared toward dealing with the larvae because it stops the problem before it becomes a major issue.
“Our program is targeted towards controlling the larvae population while they are in those temporary habits.”
Edmonton puts traps all over the region, which help the city estimate how many mosquitoes are out in the population and what species they are.
He said so far this year the city has seen an increase in a species that does more of their biting in the daytime, which is slightly different from the species they normally see.
He said the city is not seeing the species that carries the West Nile virus in any of its traps and the weather conditions are actually not right for their breeding.
Jenkins recommends people try and eliminate any standing water near their house as one way to help control the population. People can also use bug sprays with DEET and long-sleeved shirts to avoid bites.
