PSA Mosquitoes

From the Shawano Leader.

I did not know that.

"Those pesky mosquitoes... will they go away?
By Nathan Falk, Leader Reporter

If it’s summer in Wisconsin, it just wouldn’t be the same without those pesky mosquitoes.

The Wolf River Region hasn’t yet been inundated due to the lack of rainfall, but it doesn’t take much to turn that around, according to Phil Pellitteri, University of Wisconsin Extension entomologist.

Although there are 55 mosquito species in Wisconsin, it's the Aedes Vexans variety that can really wreak havoc, Pellitteri said. If Aedes Vexans eggs get two weeks of standing water, 100 mosquitoes or more have the ability to hatch from one square foot of surface water.

“If it rains, they’re here,” said Pellitteri.

Also known as summer floodwater mosquitoes, the eggs of the mosquito can sit for three to four years, waiting for flood conditions to hatch.

“They can sit on the edge of a drainage ditch. Heavy rains with fluctuating water get us into trouble,” he said. “It takes about 10 days from when the eggs get flooded to when we’ll get a push of mosquitoes. That’s what makes this group problematic, as they can travel 15 to 20 miles from where they are breeding.”

With the past few summers being relatively dry, past mosquito populations have lagged a bit.

“I always blame it on the weather man,” Pellitteri joked. “If we get a three-inch downpour, something as innocent as a highway drainage ditch or culvert, those summer floodwater mosquitoes take advantage of the water, and there are no fish or other predators to mess with them, and they’re out of there before anyone eats them.”

And those pesky critters don’t stop there.

“Their eggs that can remain dormant, it doesn’t matter if it’s dry for a couple years either,” he said. “The eggs are not susceptible to winters, and those mosquitoes are capable of going 3 to 4 generations a year.”

To lessen the mosquito nuisance in your own yard, Pellitteri suggests cutting tall grass and trimming bushes to increase air flow and eliminate damp spots where the bugs like to hang out. A fan blowing near a patio or deck can also diminish the threat, because mosquitoes are not strong fliers.

“Deet has been a standby for repellents, it’s still a good product, but in addition there are a number of European products, including lemon oil, eucalyptus, and soybean oils of which I’ve seen a couple good tests,” Pellitteri said.

The entomology department at UW-Madison has a page with tips at http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/mosquitosite

“What you’ll find looking at products is protection anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 or 4 hours, depending on the formula, and how active you are,” he said. “With those, mosquitoes get confused or repelled, but don’t bite you.”

Mosquitoes are also known carriers of the West Nile virus, which is spread by the bite of a mosquito. The first human infections of West Nile virus in Wisconsin were documented in 2002. Approximately 80 percent of people infected with West Nile virus do not become ill. Most of the remaining 20 percent of infected people may experience a mild illness that can present with fever, headache, eye pain, muscle aches, joint pain, a rash on the trunk, swollen lymph nodes, nausea and vomiting. Less than 1 percent of people infected will become severely ill.

“The less bites you get, the less risk you take,” he said. “When mosquitoes get bad, it’s good to use protection. I carry a mesh suit in my car, my hobbies and interests include being in swamps in summer, and I’ll use that rather than slather stuff on. For people who garden, it’s a definite alternative to consider.”"