Photo: Mosquito larvae in plant pot (RDCO)
Residents in the Okanagan and other areas of BC have been swatting more mosquitoes this spring.
Bruce Smith from the Regional District of Central Okanagan, says for the second year in a row, it’s a perfect storm for the biting bugs, with high water levels.
“There is a lot of standing water around, and as a result, with the warm temperatures, we’re seeing mosquito larvae hatching, and more mosquitoes are making their presence known,” Smith tells Beach Radio News.
To minimize mosquito breeding, residents are encouraged to remove any standing water sources and unused items that collect water, such as old tires.
“They should look at changing the water at least twice a week in things like bird baths and plant pots that have standing water in them,” says Smith.
Smith notes it only takes a few millimetres of water for mosquito larva to survive and hatch into biting mosquitoes.
“Just a little bit of water in a dog dish, or at the bottom of a plant pot. And if it isn’t changed, and it sits there for about 7 days, and we get warm temperatures, that’s just enough to provide a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.”
