(KNSI) — Our cold, wet spring so far has kept the mosquito population in check, but this summer, we’ll likely be swatting more than usual, according to experts.
St. Cloud State University Entomology Professor Mike Bredeson told KNSI News that under damp conditions, multiple years of mosquitoes could be born simultaneously. “Mosquitos can lay eggs and those eggs can be dormant for years. And they can lay in dry soil [and] damp soil. Until they receive some sort of environmental cue, they won’t hatch into a larvae.”
Some species can survive five to seven years in the ground waiting for the right conditions. Bredeson says the amount of moisture we have in the area is set up a potential perfect scenario; all they need is warmth. “Insects are ectothermic, which means their internal body temperature and how quickly they develop is fully dependent on their environment. If it’s a warm day, they’ll move fast. On a cold day, they’ll move and develop slowly.”
There are 51 species of mosquito, and 42 of them will bite.
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