Expert: Robust Mosquito Population This Year, Tips To Keep From Being Bit

(KNSI) – Experts say heavy rain in May followed by a warm-up in June has created ideal conditions for mosquitoes. So how do you control these nasty pests?

Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota, Jon Oliver, says prevention is the key.

“Prevention like repellents and reducing mosquito population by clearing up empty containers are the best options.”

Oliver says to avoid standing water in your yard by dumping buckets, tires, or kids’ toys because mosquitoes don’t need much water to breed. And use bug repellant with DEET. If you don’t want to use DEET, Oliver says some herbal alternatives exist.

“EPA approved repellents are great. In particular, there’s one that’s called oil of lemon eucalyptus. Repellents based on that work almost as well as DEET and last almost as long.”

He says Minnesotans got off easy with mosquitoes last year because of the drought. Oliver says most of the mosquitoes in the state are floodwater mosquitoes, and their eggs can survive cold weather.

“They lay their eggs just above the waterline and then when the water goes up, those eggs will hatch. But a lot of the mosquitoes last year laid their eggs above the waterline and then it dried out. And so, those eggs are capable of surviving over the winter.”

Oliver says most mosquitoes don’t carry diseases, but every year, there are cases reported in Minnesota of West Nile Virus and La Crosse encephalitis.

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