Rain, Heat Lead to Increased Mosquito Population Mosquito Traps More Useful Than Ever

Mosquitoes have never been popular, and they have become even more feared by people in the last decade as West Nile virus became a threat.

The past few months, however, have featured a nationwide rise in awareness of the dangers of mosquitoes. Weather patterns have led to a noticeable increase in the number of mosquitoes in many locations. Wet weather both last fall and this spring, combined with an early onset of hot, summer-like temperatures, have especially contributed to a growing population.

Exterminators and officials in Ohio, Tennessee and the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, have reported an unusually high volume of complaints from residents this year.

"This is absolutely the most active year in recent years," Greg Ahern of Arrow Exterminators in Carrollton, Texas, told the Dallas Morning News. Ahern said his company has received more service calls from residents this year than in the last few years.

Lamar Timmons, a mosquito control technician with the Hamilton County, Tenn., health department, said he has put in “some 10-hour nights” answering calls to his county’s 24/7 mosquito hotline, as residents have reported unusually high numbers of the flying insects.

Standing water is known to be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, because mosquitoes lay their eggs there. While it is impossible for residents near ponds and lakes to remove all the breeding grounds, they can eliminate standing water on their own property by recognizing the many places it gathers.

Timmons said birdbaths are the biggest culprits on residential properties, but there are many others. Wheelbarrows, animal food bowls, barrels, buckets and old tires collect rainwater and provide a hospitable environment in backyards for mosquitoes to lay eggs. Other water collectors that may be less obvious are gutters clogged with leaves, tarps and flowerpot dishes.

Mosquitoes do not live in colder temperatures, but once the mercury gets above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, they begin to appear. Such temperatures came early to many locations this year, so mosquito breeding got a head start.
Mosquitoes are known to carry West Nile virus and other diseases, so avoiding contact with this increased population is extremely important. Chemical repellants and insecticides are short-term solutions. Mosquito traps offer better long-term protection.

Mosquito traps reduce the number of mosquitoes in a given area. By using a chemical attractant and carbon dioxide, which is released through the use of propane, mosquito traps mimic human breath to effectively draw mosquitoes and trap them in an interior net. Used all season long, mosquito traps kill large numbers of mosquitoes, which interrupts the breeding cycle. The best mosquito traps can protect an acre.

With the higher bug population out there this year, such measures may be more important than ever. The better the trap, the lower the risk of being bitten.