Mosquito mayhem: Why the pests are so bad this year in Ontario
They buzz. They bite. They carry diseases that can be bad for your health.
It seems there’s more mosquitoes than ever this year – and people are noticing.
“This season has been absolutely nuts,” says Matthew Myers, office manager for Mosquito Hero in Waterloo.
Pest control services like the one Myers works at have been buzzing.
“We're finding the phones are ringing off the hook,” he says.
WHY ARE THERE SUDDENLY SO MANY MOSQUITOES?
So, why might the pests be more pesky in some areas?
“Anytime water is stagnant on a property for more than four days, mosquito populations multiply at a very fast rate,” Myers says.
“We found this year in May, early rain, and that rain kept people off their properties. They weren't able to get out and do their typical cleanups because we were getting it so consistently.”
It could also be there are more species of mosquitoes. They travel with human goods across the world and breed in their new homes, creating types of mosquitoes that never existed before.
“We're finding an increased mosquito population -- they're an absolute nuisance,” Myers says.
Warmer temperatures caused by climate change also allows some types of mosquitoes to reproduce faster.
This 2014 photo made available by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a feeding female Anopheles funestus mosquito. (James Gathany/CDC via AP)
WHAT VIRUSES DO MOSQUITOES CARRY IN ONTARIO?
Mosquitoes in Ontario can be infected with West Nile virus, which they can pass on to humans with a bite.
“In most people, West Nile virus will not cause any symptoms,” says Rebecca Piovesan, public health inspector for the Region of Waterloo. “You can be infected, and you're not even going to show any signs or symptoms. But in some people, they can experience mild flu-like illness -- so fever, headache, body ache, tiredness, possibly a rash. And in very rare cases, illness might be extreme.”
Region of Waterloo Public Health is not overly concerned, but they are keeping a watchful eye.
“We monitor for West Nile virus in mosquitoes and people. We identify mosquito breeding grounds like standing water sites and catch basins. And then we also control mosquito populations by larviciding,” Piovesan says.
The region began its annual of larvicide application on June 1. Locations include catch basins, sewage lagoons and ditches and standing water. The region said the application of larvicide will last until Aug. 31.
HOW TO KEEP MOSQUITOES AWAY
Pest control companies like Mosquito Hero can help homeowners treat the pests with a safe and special spray.
“We’re going to treat a bush like this,” Myers says, demonstrating how the liquid is applied. “The spray is going to push up the leaves so we get spray on both sides of the plant.”
Experts advise wearing loose-fitting, light-coloured and tightly-woven clothing to reduce your risk of being bitten.
Repellants like DEET and some natural oils can also help keep the pests away.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'The lost season': Winter comes to a close as Canada's warmest on record
The warmest winter on record could have far-reaching effects on everything from wildfire season to erosion, climatologists say, while offering a preview of what the season could resemble in the not-so-distant future unless steps are taken to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
NEW High thoughts: The habits of Canadian cannabis users are revealed in a new StatCan report
Statistics Canada has conducted a series of surveys to measure the impacts of legalized cannabis since the Cannabis Act took effect in 2018. The latest one, the 2023 National Cannabis Survey, sheds light on users' preferences and habits last year.
Freddie Mercury's home is on the market for first time since 1980 minus his 'exquisite clutter'
Freddie Mercury's sanctuary in London, where he lived the last decade of his life, is on sale for the first time in nearly half a century -- minus his "exquisite clutter."
NEW Where to watch the state funeral for former prime minister Brian Mulroney
A state funeral for former prime minister Brian Mulroney will be held in Montreal on March 23. CTV News will have live special coverage of his funeral service.
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.