Wet weather means active mosquito season
It’s Utah’s second wettest spring on record and that means problems with pests this summer. Abatement crews are already preparing for an active mosquito season. (Photo: KUTV)
(KUTV) — It’s Utah’s second wettest spring on record and that means problems with pests this summer.
Abatement crews are already preparing for an active mosquito season.
“It’s a hay day for them! There’s plenty of places for them to lay eggs and make more mosquitoes,” Brett Dietrick, owner of Mosquito Squad said.
All the standing water makes for the perfect breeding grounds. Abatement crews like Mosquito Squad are working to get ahead of the problem.
“We’ve been busy. We started late March and our phones are ringing off the hook,” Dietrick said.
They’ve already seen a lot adult mosquitoes in the areas they spray. They say a female mosquito can lay up to 200 eggs in a tablespoon of water. The best way to eliminate mosquitoes is to get rid of the water.
“Mosquitoes are directly associated with standing water and if there’s a lot of standing water out there, that means there’s going to be a lot of mosquitoes,” Ary Faraji, with Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District, said.
Mosquito Abatement District crews all over the state are also ramping up their efforts to stop mosquitoes at the source. They brought on seasonal staff early this year.
“Our crews are out there on a daily basis. They are doing their field investigations and are trying to suppress as many populations in their larval habitat before they are on the wing as flying adults,” Faraji said.
Despite the rain, Faraji said the colder temperature are actually helping prevent mosquitoes from spreading. They need warmer temperatures to reproduce.
“So in reality the cold is saving us in a way,” Faraji said.
Crews urge you to do your part by dumping any standing water in your yard. If you notice standing water elsewhere, you’re asked to report it. Abatement districts all over the state will come out to treat it.
