There’s a new buzz in Lethbridge as mosquitos begin to emerge for the summer season. “Mosquito populations are about average right now,” said Nelson Houle, the pest management foreperson with the City of Lethbridge’s parks department. Heavy rain in late May and early June left a lot of standing water across the city, which is helping establish mosquito populations. “Any more rain or heat will have the potential to make those populations increase,” Houle explained. The city uses naturally occurring bacteria to control and prevent the mosquitoes. The larvicide is coated in cornmeal, which the city’s mosquito technician then throws into the areas with known larvae. “We go around and do inspections and use a larvicide that is target-specific to the larvae of a mosquito,” said Houle. “It’s really safe for humans, pets, fish, birds.” While the city monitors public land, residents are encouraged to do their part to control mosquito population levels by removing stagnant water from their properties. “Making sure that things like saucers under plant pots or watering cans aren’t just collecting water and mosquitoes along the way,” said Kathleen Sheppard, executive director of Environment Lethbridge. Checking gutters for standing water and adding mesh covers to rain barrels can also help prevent mosquito populations from growing, according to Sheppard. “Even things like lavender, thyme, mint, beebalms, marigolds—basically thinking of plants you’d plant in your garden where the leaves in particular have a noticeable scent—those are often plants that mosquitos are repelled by,” she said. Sheppard advises using natural remedies rather than chemicals, which can be critical to protecting the environment. “Mosquitoes are such an important food source for a lot of the bird species we have here. Also, for bats,” said Sheppard. “So, they’re a critical part of the ecosystem.”
