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By Chantal Wagner

control efforts

City monitoring mosquito numbers

May 21, 2020 | 4:33 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – With recent rainfall over the last couple of days and a slow increase in temperatures, we expect to see mosquito activity increase.

City of Medicine Hat Superintendent of Parks Dave Genio says that’s nothing out of normal.

And they will continue to monitor 60 mosquito sites in the city, which they review on a yearly basis.

The sites are forested areas like Strathcona Park, or places known for standing water including ditches.

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Genio says after rainfalls, crews will go out and look at these areas and do dip counts to find the number of mosquito larvae that are out there.

From there they will make assessments and do control efforts.

“From the dip count methods we then make a decision depending on the numbers and if they are conducive to conforming control, then we will use a highly effective low-risk environmentally compatible biological larvicide that is a granular spread onto the water on the shore. The larvae ingest the biological larvicide and then die.”

Genio says their efforts have seen a decrease in mosquitos in the city over the last 5-6 years.

He encourages residents to also remove standing water from their property to reduce numbers as well.

And to wear bug spray, long sleeve shirts, and pants.

“As soon as temperatures get past 23 degrees then we can start to see an increased activity of mosquitos but that’s why staff are out there making sure to look at the areas and provide control efforts to keep numbers down.”