Mosquitoes starting to frolic after slow start
Many insects are buzzing around Alberta in high numbers this summer because of warm and humid weather, experts say.
Here is a look at a few of the most common insects, what their seasons have been like so far and what to expect for the rest of the summer.
TICKS
“You need to be tick aware for sure,” University of Alberta entomologist Janet Sperling said of the small arachnid that could carry the bacteria of the potentially debilitating Lyme disease.
She studies ticks and collects them from the public for her research. She said she has already been getting more sent to her than in previous years.
The Alberta government has a submit-a-tick program and Daniel Fitzgerald, lab technologist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, said based on the numbers they have been receiving, the tick population in the province is one of the biggest, though not as large as last year’s record — slowed down by the late winter.
Mike Jenkins, biological sciences technician for the city, said although the tick population is relatively low in Edmonton, the blacklegged tick — with the potential to transfer Lyme disease — has been detected in the city and so it is more of a concern for people bitten by a tick.
MOSQUITOES
It has been a fluctuating season for mosquitoes in Edmonton, Jenkins said, to match the equally fluctuating weather patterns. He said mosquitoes didn’t arrive as early this year because of the late cold spells.
He said this caused mixing of the spring-bred and summer-bred mosquitoes, resulting in a spike in numbers around the beginning of June. He said a few from spring are still around but the numbers are returning back to normal averages for July.
APHIDS
The population for this sap-sucking insect on plants is relatively high in Edmonton in comparison to recent years, Jenkins said.
He added they are not a major threat to plants but they do create a sticky honeydew sap. The sap frequently creates a mess on sidewalks, patio furniture and can also attract a mould-like fungus on leaves.
BUTTERFLIES
This was expected to be a big summer for butterflies in the province, largely because of a painted lady migration which only happens in Alberta every 10 to 15 years.
Felix Sperling, professor at the University of Alberta and curator of the Strickland Museum of Entomology, said there was a large painted lady population this spring as expected and the numbers have since dropped significantly. But this will not be the case for long.
He noted the migrants are still laying eggs on thistle plants and it depends on how hot it is in the coming weeks as to when exactly the next generation will be spreading their colourful wings.