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By battlefordsNOW Staff

Pest control

Mosquito population up in northwest region

Jul 13, 2022 | 5:20 PM

If it feels like this mosquito season has been bad, that’s because it’s ‘partially’ true.

Tracking of the insect’s population in multiple communities in the province is showing there’s a spike this year.

Sydney Worthy, Entomologist for the City of Saskatoon, told battlefordsNOW that the number of bugs is higher than at least the last 2-4 years, but not at a historical level.

“It is still much lower than the 10-year average, so it’s still fairly low overall,” she said.

In order to stop bites from picking up, Worthy recommended a few precautions including long sleeves in the morning and evening.

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“That’s probably the best protection aside from bug spray,” she said. “Also make sure there’s no standing water in yards. Even kids’ toys in the back yard have standing water in small crevices.”

Fogging

Some municipalities are taking additional measures to try and reduce the mosquito population.

The Town of Battleford intends to conduct Mosquito Fogging on Thursday at 10:00 p.m., following weather delays earlier this week. Using a product called DeltaGard 20 EW, crews will go through individual neighbourhoods, with the spray designed to kill mosquitos and have minimal effect on other wildlife.

However, the town is reminding people to take their own precautions to stop exposure in their homes. A Fire Department Unit will be announcing over a loudspeaker prior to the fog machine entering the streets, to ensure all windows and doors can be closed and air conditioning units and vents are off or closed. This should stay in place for around 60 minutes.

Other precautions include bringing in laundry, toys, and pets, covering pool surfaces, and washing fruit and vegetables before eating them.

Larvacide

Communities also utilize a less intrusive larvacide program to control mosquito populations.

In North Battleford, the City uses a product called Vectobac, which contains a bacterium found naturally in soils. It produces protein crystals toxic to only mosquito and black fly larvae. This is applied to standing water within the city once a week during the spring and summer months.

(City of North Battleford)

According to City Administration, recent rain has created more standing water in the river valley and surrounding sections of land, which makes prime breeding areas for mosquitoes.

Worthy said larvacide targets a particular window of development and is less effective when you miss it.

“It’s all about timing, how hot it is, how rainy it is,” she said. “All those are factors in what makes the program more effective.”

West Nile risks

The province has put out multiple advisories this summer regarding mosquito populations and the possibility of the West Nile virus being carried in Saskatchewan.

Saskatoon, Regina, and Estevan use New Jersey Light Traps to draw in mosquitos during weeknights, allowing staff to identify results.

“That will tell us what species are active at what time of year and a bit of an estimate on whether the population is going down, along with the vector species for West Nile,” Worthy said.

While the risk for the virus has declined in recent years, the province is still asking residents to be mindful of taking precautions.

“West Nile virus is now considered endemic in Saskatchewan,” Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer for Saskatchewan Dr. Julie Kryzanowski said. “While the number of Culex tarsalis mosquitoes detected in Saskatchewan has declined in recent years, taking precautions against mosquito bites is always a good idea.”

Anyone bitten by a mosquito and experiencing fever, confusion, neck stiffness, or an unusually severe headache is advised to seek medical attention. More information on West Nile is available here.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

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