A heat warning in the Yukon could mean an increase in mosquito activity

Flying, buzzing, itching. Yukoners might be surprised to learn that the mosquitoes they've been swatting are the results of a snowy winter. 

The territory had a record-breaking winter for snow fall and precipitation where the majority of surveyed sites met or exceeded historic monthly records.

With the additional snow, means more water and wet areas as well as a later start to the spring.

Both, result in greater mosquito activity, according to Curtis Fediuk, a biologist and owner of Duka Environment Services Ltd. — an environmental company running the territorial government's mosquito management program.

"Overall, we're noticing that there has been more larval development than normal, and that's just a function of more snow melt and more water than normal and also precipitation. It's been a wet, wet summer," he said.

Fediuk said Yukoners should prepare for more mosquitos during the warmer temperatures.

Recently, Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a heat warning in Yukon and northern British Columbia with temperatures reaching 28 C in Whitehorse combined with overnight lows near 13 C.

"Adult mosquitoes, like larval mosquitoes, are cold blooded animals. So, when the water is warm, mosquitoes develop faster or when the air is warm, those are good conditions to get adult mosquitoes more active," Fediuk said.

Fediuk said mosquito populations usually start to decrease around mid-July, but with the delayed start in the season that decrease might be delayed.

Mosquitoes need from seven to 14 days to develop. 

That's why as part of the management program, someone from Duka Environment Services checks the standing water in and around Whitehorse every eight to ten days.

The staff member is checking for larvae, to manage the mosquito population in its development stage. 

Larval development could be five to 10 or 100 to 200 depending on the site, explained Fediuk. If the sample sites have larvae, the staff member applies a larvicide or bacterium that only affects mosquito's stomachs.

"It's actually the little protein chain that is toxic to the mosquito larvae," Fediuk said.