Mosquito population explodes after heavy rain
Counts jumped from 5 to 534 in a month as wet conditions create ideal breeding grounds across Edmonton.
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Edmonton's mosquito population has surged dramatically following last weekend's heavy rainfall, with city traps catching 534 insects on June 20 — a more than 10,000 per cent increase from just 5 caught on May 23.
The more than 100 millimetres of rain created perfect breeding conditions for the insects. "A sunny period after lots of rain will have very active mosquitoes all looking for a quick blood meal," said Loki Synman, curator for invertebrate zoology at the Royal Alberta Museum.
Mike Jenkins, a City of Edmonton biological sciences technician, warns the situation will worsen. "Most of our species are flood water species, so they actually lay their eggs on the vegetation around a pond," Jenkins said. "Then, when either snow melts or rainfall fills up the pond again, that activates those resting eggs."
More rain is forecast for this weekend through Sunday, with 30 to 60 millimetres possible. The city stopped aerial spraying for mosquitoes but continues targeting eggs in ditches and ground habitats. Residents should prepare with bug spray as numbers are expected to climb further.