SPOKANE, Wash. – Mosquitoes are swarming the Spokane area earlier than usual this year, and scientists say standing water is to blame.
Early snow melt combined with a late wet spring left plenty of standing water over recent weeks. This created an ideal place for mosquitoes to grow.
The weather has been good for frogs that eat mosquitoes, but bad for people trying to enjoy the outdoors.
Kathy Anson, a concerned viewer who reached out for answers, says the mosquitoes have affected her daily life.
“It has been bad this year,” Anson said. “We thought it was just the area. But talking to a lot of our friends and neighbors, everyone seems to be having a ton of issues with mosquitoes this year and they’re everywhere.”
“We definitely can tell there’s a difference. And walk outside and especially certain times of the day they’re yeah, they’re bad,” she added.
Dr. Laura Lavine from the Department of Entomology at Washington State University explains the cause.
“Because we had late spring rains, that is, perfect. Breeding for standing pools of water is a perfect breeding area for mosquitoes,” Lavine said.
Scientists recommend removing standing water from bird baths, water features, and puddles to prevent mosquito development.
“When you’re out and about. Wear long sleeves. The evening time is definitely going to be a time when it’s starting to get dark. That, time of dusk that you really particularly want to be careful,” Dr. Lavine advised.
Homeowners can treat yards with bug repellent, but scientists say it’s often only a temporary fix. They recommend bug spray for skin protection.
Scientists say this mosquito swarm may die out soon. However, more types will emerge this summer, so people should not expect them to disappear.
Safe Use of Insect Repellents
According to the Spokane Regional Health District, repellents containing the following ingredients are effective against mosquitoes:
DEETIR3535Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) or para-menthanedial (PMD)2-UndecanonePermethrinPicaridin (Also known as KBR 3023)
Permethrin is recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear. Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills ticks and mosquitoes and retains this effect after repeated laundering. Follow directions carefully.
Repellents used on children should contain no more than 30% DEET. Insect repellents are not recommended for children younger than two months.
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