With rainy conditions persisting and the inevitable warm-up right around the corner, Calgary is on the verge of a mosquito invasion.
While the pests haven’t made an appearance just yet, experts warn they’re on their way.
“That’s what the concern is with the warm weather – we are going to see them mature a lot faster,” Tadek Sampson, with Buzz Boss said. “Most can go from egg to adult in under a week of weather above 25 degrees.”
The dry spring and steady downpours ahead of even more warm weather could make most backyards a breeding ground; Sampson said it’s important to keep your yard as inhospitable as possible.
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“Mosquitoes that bite you in your yard are the ones growing and breeding there, so get rid of standing water,” he said. “Pots turned over, aerating bird baths and gutters, (making sure) eaves troughs are clear of debris; you’re going to see less mosquitoes actually breeding on your property.”
He said even the smallest amount of water can be enticing.
“It can take as little as two ounces to lay eggs,” Sampson said. “In fact if you have a cup of water, over 1,000 eggs can be laid in that cup over the course of a season, so a lot of mosquitoes can come out of a very small amount of standing water.”
WATCH BELOW: James Borrow joins Global Calgary with details on our city’s mosquito population.
Calgarians who spend a lot of time outdoors said they’re bracing for the inevitable infestation.
“Longer sleeves, mosquito repellant and a little bit of canola oil on top of rain barrels creates an oil film and the larvae can’t breathe through the film,” Mary Schmitz said.
Mosquitoes here don’t carry the Zika virus or Malaria, but there is the potential of West Nile, so it’s important to do whatever you can to protect yourself.