Mosquito population being described as higher than normal this year

REGINA – The rain – followed by sunshine – has made for ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes including the ones that carry the West Nile virus.

Saskatchewan has 41 species, and they’ve already all been spotted in the province.

The number of mosquitoes is being described as higher than normal this year – and it’s still expected to increase.

Culex tarsalis – the bugs able to carry West Nile – have already started to emerge in southern Saskatchewan.

“Still relatively low numbers compared to the rest of the mosquito species that are out there, but it will just keep laying more and more eggs and we’ll start to see another generation come along in another week or so,” said Ministry of Health Entomologist Phil Curry.

Last year, a Saskatchewan resident died after contracting the West Nile virus.