If you ever thought mosquitoes to simply be a nuisance, or a necessary evil for our ecosystem, perhaps you have not imagined how large a problem they actually are.

In the past, I have written about the largest mosquito and burgeoning mosquito populations.  If you have ever been to an outdoor party and suffered a mosquito bite or two, you likely haven’t thought about how large their numbers actually are.  Shorter winters and rising temperatures in Central Mass (and everywhere) have seen those numbers grow over the last decade or more.  How large could the mosquito population be?

One million mosquitoes from one neighborhood collected in one summer.

One neighborhood on Sanibel Island in Florida, gave the LCMCD trapping project 1,000,000 mosquitoes in the summer of 2021.  And whether or not you have ever wondered what a million mosquitoes looks like, here it is!

Why trap mosquitoes?

While this is an impressive feat, mosquito trapping is not simply for bragging rights.  Trapping takes place throughout the United States in order to identify mosquito-borne illnesses that might be present in local populations.  The CMMCP has traps throughout Central Mass.  And make no mistake, it doesn’t take a massive sampling of a local mosquito population to find those illnesses.  This type of surveillance is helpful in eliminating mosquitoes in areas, where disease is present, and keeping the public aware of the potential for infection.

What is the likelihood of being infected with West Nile Virus in Central Mass?

Massachusetts had nearly 10 human cases of West Nile virus in 2021, and reported 11 cases in 2020.  Southern states are already reporting their first cases of West Nile.  Mississippi had theirs in January.  While human West Nile infection is rare, the potential for human infection is never zero.  And until it is, we must remain vigilant in protecting ourselves, as well as our children and pets.  We must also remember that the threat for mosquito bites is ever-present on our tropical vacations.  As well for hikers and campers.  Mosquitoes are not just something we deal with at home.  When you and your family are away from home, it is recommended that we apply mosquito protection via a DEET concentration of up to 30%.  The lower the concentration, the more often DEET must be re-applied.

Keep mosquitoes from becoming a huge problem on your property with Shrewsbury mosquito control.

The professionals do it best!  You can purchase mosquito sprays online, but for trusted protection, I recommend professional Shrewsbury mosquito control.  The timeline for ultimate protection?  Your professional mosquito yard sprays should begin in April, and last through October in Central Mass.  But it isn’t just barrier mosquito treatments that will keep your yard safer from the threat of a huge mosquito population.  You must also remember to practice these seven simple tips to make your yard less mosquito-friendly!

Also read: Is DEET better than picaridin for hikers?