Mosquito season underway in Winnipeg, experts uncertain how bad it will get

Mosquito season has arrived in Winnipeg, and while the City’s larviciding program — which targets mosquito larvae — is underway, just how itchy will things get this season?

Lincoln Poulin from Poulin’s Pest Control says it’s still too early to tell how many mosquitos we’ll be dealing with this year. Factoring in whether the dry season continues or we get some more of the wet weather we’ve been seeing as of late.

“If that is the case and it is very wet, the mosquito larvae, the eggs that are in the ground, the eggs can last for years and the wet weather will get them moving around. If it’s a drought, they’ll just stay dormant,” explained Poulin.

But Poulin says there are simple things people can do to re-direct those pesky, biting bugs.

“Eliminating standing water is certainly going to help. There are, the lights around their house. Mosquitoes are going to be attracted to light, so using lights away from where people are sitting to try and draw the mosquitos there. And there are lights that are designed to electrocute flying insects – mosquitoes, houseflies. Very effective. “

Winnipegger, Rika Pedrosa, says she loves being outside, but she does get ‘bugged’ by the mosquitoes.

“I don’t think anybody likes mosquitoes, honestly,” said Pedrosa. “Honestly, just sometimes, try to hide from them but. Bug spray as much as possible. Citronella. And I have heard lately that coffee grounds are really good for keeping them away. So maybe put some around the yard.”

Pedrosa and her husband, Tim Galang, both share the same sentiment about mosquitos.

“I find them very, very annoying. I don’t like them at all,” said Galang.

Poulin says we will only know how many mosquitos to expect at the beginning of June. So until then, rain or shine, we’ll all just have to sit tight and wait.