Friday, March 29, 2024

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Wet weather means more insects

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The wet spring weather is already having an impact on our lakes and rivers; Ontario docks and even islands are now under water. That also means local insect populations are thriving and by the end of the month we could be lathering on the bug spray.

McMaster entomologist Marvin Gunderman says mosquito season has already begun in Northern Ontario thanks to the abundance of water there.

“I just got back from Haliburton and oh boy, we ran for our lives.”

All creatures need moisture and wet spring weather means more insect larvae survive. That means more adults emerge when it warms up. Mosquito larvae lives in the water for days; so you can clear standing water weekly to avoid the adults.

But it’s not just a mosquito bounty that we have to look forward to this summer, all these high, fast-moving streams are just perfect for other kinds of biting, stinging insects. More horse flies and deer flies will be around this summer along with harmless crane flies.

On the bright side, says bug man Gunderman, insect predators will also thrive.

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