Mosquito boom or bust? It may be neither
A recent spike in mosquito activity may make it seem like there are more blood-sucking bugs around than usual, but local experts say the numbers are typical for this time of year.
Officials with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit say the recent heat and humidity combined with wet weather has created the perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes, but they admit -- it’s been worse before.
Environmental health manager with WECHU, Phil Wong, says the mosquito surveillance program started this season in May.
“Looks like we are at pretty much on par with where we were last year...To date we’ve identified and captured 32,000 mosquitoes in the 2021 season. For some perspective, for last year in the exact same week, we had 32,000 as well.”
Wong says there were more mosquitoes buzzing around Windsor-Essex in 2019, despite how it seems today.
“(In) 2019, on this exact same week during mosquito season, we had 46,000 mosquitoes caught and identified. So, there was a substantial actual decrease since 2019.”
Wong believes it may seem like there are more mosquitoes around than usual, since more people have spent time outside during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wong tells CTV News Windsor the health unit has set up 14 more mosquito traps than usual this year, including in places not previously tested, like Point Pelee, because since 2016 they have identified invasive mosquitoes in Windsor-Essex, and that they’re 'here to stay.'
“They do spread some of these more exotic mosquito diseases such as the Zika virus. We found it here, we found it in 2016 and we continue to find it every year since then.”
Earlier this month, the WECHU identified Aedes albopictus - which is native to Southeast Asia - during routine surveillance in Windsor, noting they are aggressive daytime biters, with peaks in activity in the early morning and late afternoon.
Wong says routine surveillance is a bit different than in other places across Ontario or Canada due to the geography and local climate, adding it tends to be warmer, wetter and more humid than other regions.
“The habitat for mosquito growth and population is dependant on temperature, rain and things of that nature, so, when there are issues with standing water in our region then you’ll give opportunity for mosquitoes to breed more.”
Health unit officials say they’re monitoring traps closely due to the invasive species’ ability to reproduce quickly. Wong explains it takes about seven to 10 days for mosquitos to mature from egg to adult, reminding residents to remove any standing water from their property.
Wong encourages anyone to check out the health unit website for weekly updates on mosquito tracking.
“You can go on there and see by week for the last five years, I believe, what type of mosquitoes we’re catching and which municipality they’re in and you can really get a good glimpse of what we’re dealing with year after year.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.