Bug off: What to expect from Ottawa's mosquito population this year

While the low snowfall totals from the winter weren’t conducive to the hatching of eggs, the early April showers could still give rise to late-April mosquito encounters.

Published Apr 19, 2024 • Last updated 56 minutes ago • 4 minute read

Marc Avramov, a PhD candidate in Carleton University’s biology department, says there are hundreds of species of mosquitoes in North America. Photo by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIA

Last weekend’s rain put a pause on the start of golf and barbecue season, and it also could help spur the start of pest season.

While the low snowfall totals from the winter weren’t conducive to the hatching of eggs, the early April showers could still give rise to late-April mosquito encounters.

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Marc Avramov, a PhD candidate in Carleton University’s biology department, says some bugs are already in the air, but cool nights — lows for the next 10 days range from 1 to 8 C — could still kill some off and slow down the birth process.

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The connection between nature and insects is like many relationships. It’s complicated.

So, when do mosquitoes come to life?

“It’s multi-faceted,” says Avramov, who could be dubbed the Mosquito Man for his in-depth research about the flying pest.

Avramov, who is also affiliated with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, says there are hundreds of species of mosquitoes in North America, all of which react differently to the climate. Many of them “diapause” — insect language for hibernate — during the winter.

The eggs are submerged in ice and hatch in the spring. In some cases, they need only one centimetre of water for the cycle of life to begin.

The female mosquito does the biting — on both humans and animals — and continues to feed on blood until she is full. She rests for a few days before laying new eggs.

“Eggs can hatch within a few days to months, then the larvae/pupae stage lasts around a week before emerging as an adult,” says Avramov. “Generally speaking, it takes between seven to 10 days to a month from egg to adult. It takes longer when the water is cooler.”

Marc Avramov says mosquitoes could hatch, but become lethargic if colder weather arrives. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

What is the impact of the low snowfall?

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Unquestionably, there was far less water around in late March than in previous seasons. According to Canada Weather Stats, 113.4 centimetres of snow fell in Ottawa from October to March. That was less than half the 244.5 cm total of 2022-23 and far below the median of 199.7 cm. A far drier than usual start to spring didn’t present an ideal breeding ground for eggs to hatch. It was so unusually dry that Ottawa fire officials declared a burn ban in the city, even on properties that have open-air fire permits.

But that was then. Come the start of April, we received a blast of 19.6 cm of snow. While that melted within days, the additional moisture ended up in the ground. Coupled with the 27.5 mm of rain we received from April 10-14, suddenly additional pools of water have appeared.

That’s good news for the greening of lawns. And for the egg-hatching process. Standing water is the mosquito world’s best friend.

What’s the impact of cold nights?

Naturally, a combination of rain and sun helps spawn the pest population, and the forecast calls for both during the course of the next week or two. There is yet another factor, though, that could keep them in check for the next little while. Survival often depends on the weather staying above 7-10 C consistently through the night.

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“They could hatch, but then become lethargic if colder weather arrives,” says Avramov.

What does the City of Ottawa do to control the numbers?

Wetland areas naturally give rise to larger populations. In 2016, the Kanata North Nuisance Mosquito Control Program was introduced — a larvicide is injected into the Carp River watershed — and the project was extended to 2027 with the support of city council earlier this year. Kanata residents will be charged approximately $20 annually to cover the $1.85 million price tag. The insecticide is composed of bacteria found in the soil and attacks mosquito larvae before they grow into adults.

Health Canada has approved the insecticide.

How is the birth of black flies different from mosquitoes?

While standing water is the best breeding ground for mosquitoes, it’s faster-flowing water, often from rivers and streams, that gives rise to more black flies.

Given the limited snowfall of the winter, there has been less runoff, resulting in lower water levels. All of that suggests that black flies may not be as big an issue as in other years, according to Jeff Skevington, a retired insect scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

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“There aren’t a lot of snow loads,” says Skevington, who continues to study the evolution and relationships between fly families and birds. “So if there’s not a lot of rain, it looks like it might be a light year for black flies.”

There may also be good news for campers and hikers, who are more prone to being bitten by deer flies and horse flies.

Typically, they lay their eggs in low-level water or damp spots in wooded areas. Similar to the situation with mosquitoes, lower-than-usual snowfall totals will result in ground that is less saturated than in previous years.

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