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Soggy weather could breed more mosquitoes

Aug 7, 2015 | 7:09 AM

Dry conditions kept the mosquitoes at bay this summer but the recent wet weather has created more breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Thursday was some very soggy weather despite it being a dry, hot summer.

About 20 to 40 millimetres of rain fall in Saskatoon. Some areas of the city saw up to 50 millimetres, according to Environment Canada. The underpass at Circle Drive and Idylwyld Drive had to be shut down by police when it became flooded. 

“With cooler nights and the treatment program, it’s hard to say whether there is even going to be a spike following these rain events,” Jeff Boone, supervisor of pest management for the City of Saskatoon, said. 

“In really, really hot conditions; it will be five to seven days. Cooler conditions, you look at 10 to 15 days.”

Boone said crews are out spraying standing water to kill larvae. 

The numbers of mosquitoes that carry West Nile has risen a little but Boone said they are still very low. 

Boone suggests residents remove standing water from their property to avoid mosquito breeding grounds.

-with files from News Talk Radio’s Chris Carr and Lasia Kretzel

 

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