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With the weather getting warm, it’s not just people who are becoming more noticeable outside.
The City of Regina is doing what it can to keep mosquito populations at bay.
The city is using Vectobac, which is an organic product that only targets mosquito larvae, to help control the tiny blood-suckers’ numbers.
“Our goal is to try and keep ourselves below average,” said Russell Eirich, the city’s manager of forestry, pest control and horticulture.
He said the average number of mosquitoes caught in the 12 traps the city set up this year, is one. Last year at this time, the average was five mosquitoes in each trap.
“Our populations are 20 per cent of what you would see on average.”
He said one of the reasons there’s been such a low amount of mosquitoes is the dry weather the city has been having recently.
“The one thing that we got to understand though with mosquitoes is it’s those quick summer storms where we get a lot of rain in a short period of time followed by heat so that’s what we’re really watching for.”
He said people can help reduce the amount of mosquitoes by removing empty cans from yards, change water in birdbaths frequently and to cover rain barrels.
Tent caterpillars
The city has also been battling with another pest this year: tent caterpillars.
Eirich said as of May 19, 1,400 trees have been sprayed for the insects.
“Tent caterpillars are out and we’re doing what we can to treat them.”
He said at this time, the numbers are very similar to what was seen last year.
Adding that people can go out and buy a product called “BTK” and can spray it on their own trees.
