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Saskatoon mosquito numbers plunge due to scorching summer weather trend

Mosquito; West Nile; generic
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Saskatoon’s hot and dry conditions are impacting the mosquito population.

Sydney Worthy, an entomologist with the City of Saskatoon, says during the heatwave, numbers were “drastically lower” than the 10-year average.

While mosquitoes like the heat, Worthy says without the moisture, breeding numbers have fallen off.

“The hot, dry conditions we've had the last few months, it’s reducing a lot of the standing water — and that's good breeding habitat for mosquitoes. So we're seeing lower numbers, mostly due to that,” she told CTV News.

But in southeastern Saskatchewan, numbers are up, according to the province.

Mid-July marks the time of year when Culex, a mosquito species capable of carrying the West Nile virus, come out.

The province says all tests have come back negative.

PESTS ALSO A FOOD SOURCE

Renny Grilz, resource management officer for the Meewasin Valley Authority, says the drop-off in mosquitos could impact some birds and bats.

“There’s a lot of insect-eating species, so things like bats — which are an endangered species here in Saskatchewan — and then a lot of our grassland birds are insectivores,” Grilz said.

“I think we’re going to see populations maybe suffering next year if we don’t get more precipitation next year.”

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