If you have noticed a lot of aggressive mosquitoes outside recently, you’re not alone. Officials at the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District report that surveillance of nuisance mosquito populations Aedes (multiple species) increased to 45.2 per trap night per week, which is above average for this time of year.
Precipitation during weeks 35 and 36 — the last two weeks of August — has lead to increased populations of nuisance mosquitoes.
In week 35, just under 2.5 inches of rain were reported and in Week 36 over 2.5 inches were reported. No significant rain was reported the last the past 12 days until today, Wednesday September 19, 2018.
Officials report the mosquito population in the Chicago area is high for this time of year. The number of mosquitoes is reported to be much lower than previous season peaks during Week 22 (last week of May 2018) when about 100 mosquitoes were collected per trapped night per week. During week 27 (the last week of June) about 250 mosquitoes were collected per trap night per week.
However, the mosquitoes — especially during Tuesday September 18, 2018 and Wednesday September 19, 2018 — have been observed during daylight hours. They have been especially noticeable as people exit car doors or the doors at home.
Experts say heavy rains around Labor Day, followed by above normal temperatures for September produced a higher-than-normal amount of mosquitoes in recent weeks.
Floodwater Mosquitoes are known to be aggressive, but do not carry the West Nile Virus that sickened people and lead to deaths. However, this doesn’t mean that a person won’t be bitten by a mosquito species carrying the West Nile Virus (WNV).
The North Shore Mosquito Abatement District serves Deerfield (Cook County Only), Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Golf, Kenilworth Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Skokie, Wilmette, and Winnetka. The Northwest Mosquito Abatement District, which serves Arlington Heights and nearby communities, has not released a public report.
University of Wisconsin entomology experts also reported that the mosquito population is abnormally high this year. The experts report that there are 10 to 50 times more mosquitoes than normally found in September.
The mosquito populations are expected to drop sharply, especially when night time temperatures dip below 60°F. The normal low temperature for September 19 in Chicago is about 53°F. Wednesday’s low in the morning was 66°F. Tuesday’s low in the morning was 69°F and Monday’s low in the morning was 66°F.
Morning lows have been above normal or well above normal since August 31, 2018. The Friday September 21, 2018 is currently forecast at 71°F at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Saturday September 22, 2018, although much cooler is forecast to be 53°F, but still above the normal low of 51°F.
September begins with a normal low of 60°F and ends with a normal low of 48°F.
See also …
North Shore Mosquito Abatement District — nsmad.com
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Inland Floodwater (Aedes vexans) or Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) on Broccoli leaf.