Skeeter-geddon might not be coming this year
CBC News | Posted: June 1, 2016 1:06 PM | Last Updated: June 1, 2016
City crews monitor larvae, drop bio-bombs in lead up to the buzzing season
Like most reports of a coming apocalypse, rumours of a mosquito infestation the likes of which we've never seen are possibly overblown.
The city of Calgary's pest management experts are on a mosquito reconnaissance mission — monitoring conditions, figuring out larval concentrations and then predicting the coming swarm.
Once larvae are detected, an air war begins, with corn husk granules infused with bacteria dropped from a helicopter. This bio warfare only affects the larvae.
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The city then shifts to a ground offensive to monitor the adult population and determine wether they're winning or not.
So where do we stand?
"It's a sub-normal year in terms of mosquito numbers because it's been very dry and there's been really not much of an opportunity for them to build up their numbers," said integrated pest management technician Jim Watts.
"So even if we didn't do an aerial program it would — at least the way it sits right now — it would be a below normal year."
Cancel the mosquitalypse. For now.
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