City of Regina preparing for battle with mosquitoes

The major rainfall expected this weekend means mosquitoes could be making their return to Regina.

Russell Eirich, the City of Regina’s manager of open space services, said Thursday the little bugs could reappear over the next week.

“We’ve been really fortunate that we’ve had really low mosquito counts up until now,” Eirich said. “Generally speaking, we’ll see the mosquitoes emerge as adults about seven to 10 days after the rain event is over. Once we get out there and start to treat those sites, we will be doing so.

“We’re ready and we have enough (VectoBac to kill mosquito larvae in standing water) and we’re just waiting for Mother Nature to give us the water.”

The mosquito situation in Regina will be determined by how long water pools and is on the ground.

According to Eirich, mosquitoes love to hang out where water pools. If the ground dries out, there is less of an opportunity for mosquitoes to emerge, but if water pools, it creates endless possibilities for the bugs.

Eirich said there are ways people in Regina can help control the population.

“Take a look in your backyard. If you have anything holding water, dump it as soon as you can,” he said. “A cup can produce a thousand mosquitoes, so anything residents can do to help us helps the whole community.”

Last June, Regina broke a record for the number of mosquitoes caught by city traps in that month.