Jun 24, 2009 5:43 pm US/Eastern
Mosquito Explosion Expected This Weekend
Experts Say Warm Weather After So Much Rain Will Have Bugs Buzzing
WEYMOUTH (WBZ) ―
"Mosquitos are stacked up like airplanes waiting to take off." That's the word from a Norfolk County mosquito expert, who says that after all the wet weather we've had, the coming sunshine this weekend will create a paradise for the blood-sucking insects.
John Smith of the Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project says the wet, cool weather of late has given the mosquitos time to build up their numbers. To make matters worse, the recent coastal storm and high tides have inundated salt marshes on east-facing coastlines, creating even more habitat for the voracious salt-water species.
"This species is nasty, and travels miles to find a blood meal. And they're just as active during the day as night," Smith said.
Find: Your Local Mosquito Control Board
The Norfolk County Mosquito program is level funded this year, so Smith says the spraying and trapping program will continue as it has in the past. However, officials from the state's Department of Public Health says they've been so over-worked by testing of the H1N1 virus, that they'll have to start charging county officials to test for West Nile and EEE.
View: West Nile & EEE Stats From Recent Years
State and local officials are causing residents to start using mosquito repellant when outdoors, because this is the time of year when West Nile and EEE start showing up in birds and mosquitos.
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