Mosquito numbers below average in Regina

Regina’s mosquito population continues to trend far below the average year.

Despite worries that wet conditions would allow the pests to breed more successfully, it hasn’t manifested in the city’s counts.

Russell Eirich, the City of Regina’s senior program manager for forestry, pest control and horticulture, broke down the latest numbers.

Last week, crews saw only 10 mosquitoes per trap.

“Compare that to our historical average of 45 per trap, and we’re seeing roughly 20 per cent of what we would normally see in the summer at this time,” he explained.

The culex tarsalis mosquito is the species that can transfer the West Nile virus to humans. The city found an average of just one per trap last week.

So why are the blood-sucking bugs not out in full force?

“We’ve had a really dry spring to start us off in the right direction … And as those rains have come, we have been able to get out there and treat the few sites we see,” Eirich said.