As warmer summer temperatures finally settle in after a cool spring in Ottawa, outdoor patios and swimming pools won't be the only things coming to life. The warm weather is also great news for mosquitoes and other biting insects, many of which are eager to become unwelcome guests in your backyard.
Why the Delay?
Marc Avramov, a PhD candidate in Carleton University's biology department, explains that this year's mosquito season arrived later due to cooler spring temperatures. However, that doesn't mean the bugs won't come out in full force this summer. "In Canada, we're pretty doomed no matter what," Avramov said. "We're always going to have a pretty solid amount of mosquitoes."
Environment Canada forecasts that temperatures in Ottawa will hover around the high-20s Celsius during the day and drop to around 15 C at night, ushering in perfect conditions for mosquitoes to buzz to life.
The Role of Standing Water
Mosquitoes thrive in standing water, and the early-season bugs emerge from water pools produced by melting snow, according to Robert Anderson, a research scientist at the Canadian Museum of Nature. "There are mosquito eggs that are laid around the edges of these ponds, and they'll start to hatch," Anderson said. "Then you'll get the larvae feeding in the ponds, and they will come out, and that's usually your first group of mosquitoes."
How Has the Cool Spring Made a Difference?
While we have had some warm days this spring, temperatures continued to drop below 7 C at night, said Avramov, who is also affiliated with Public Health Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Given how mosquitoes rely on consistent temperatures to survive, the cooler weather has left them emerging from hibernation fairly lethargic, delaying the start of the breeding process.
"When it's really warm during the day, but then it drops down quite a bit at night, which is what we're seeing so far, the developmental process for the mosquitoes slows down and we don't see this typical explosion of activity," Avramov said. However, he has started to notice more mosquitoes buzzing around his yard and "biting pretty heavily" in the past few days, indicating we might be getting into "the peak of the valley."
How Long Will Mosquito Season Last?
There are more than 80 species of mosquitoes in Canada, and around 40 of those can be found in the Ottawa Valley, Avramov says. Each species has its own biology and ecology, developing its own preference for different times of the year. Some adult insects will diapause, or hibernate, during the winter, and those are the bugs that start the mosquito season each spring once it becomes warm enough. It often does not take a lot of water for the life cycle to begin.
Survival Tips
- Eliminate standing water around your home, such as in birdbaths, flower pots, and gutters.
- Use insect repellent containing DEET or other approved ingredients.
- Wear long sleeves and pants during peak mosquito hours at dawn and dusk.
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.
- Consider using mosquito traps or fans to deter them from outdoor areas.
With these precautions, you can enjoy the Ottawa summer while keeping the biting bugs at bay.
