MN Mosquito Invasion: Are You Ready?

BUSY BUSY MOSQUITO SEASON

It might be time to stock up on bug spray. We are all in such a hurry for spring to get here. Sometimes, we forget about the bugs that tend to come along with it. It appears that our Minnesota unofficial state bug, the mosquito, might be making a big scene this year. (I wish I could say that about our official state bug, the Monarch Butterfly).

The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District released its spring update, and it has created a model that predicts the number of cattail mosquitoes we can expect each year. In 2025, there are expected to be close to 100 cattail mosquitoes per trap on average, comparable to 2020, when the mosquitoes were horrible. We might expect lower numbers in spring, but they will probably spike in early July and then decline for the rest of the summer.

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WHAT THE PROFESSIONALS ARE SAYING

According to the MMCD, deer ticks have already been discovered, but luckily, they are expected to be about average in 2025. (Average...is that good or bad?)

Unfortunately for us, it is the type of mosquito, the Cattail Mosquito, that could return in big numbers this year if our state has rainfall numbers that are similar to 2024.

PESKY LITTLE BUGGERS

Cattail mosquitoes have been absent for about 3 years due to drought but are projected to return this year.

With experts predicting that these mosquitoes might be unavoidable this summer, I'm trying to turn this into a positive. Now might be a good time to invest in bug spray stock. Is there such a thing?

HOW TO MINIMIZE MOSQUITOES AROUND YOUR HOME

There are some things you can do to minimize the mosquito population in your own backyard.

• If you are planning on having bird baths or ponds, you should make sure the water keeps moving in those places. Think about a water fountain or two.
• Of course, bug spray is a must. Make sure you keep some on hand. DEET or Picaridin are effective at repelling mosquitoes.
• This spring, you can wear long sleeves.
• If there's a chance they are going to get in your home, keeping a fan blowing on you at night will help keep them at bay.
• You can also turn off outdoor lights at night, get some mosquito traps for your yard, and make sure that the screens on your home windows and doors are in good condition. There's nothing worse than a mosquito in the house.