Posted on 08/02/2016 11:13:19 AM PDT by John Conlin
Where have all the mosquitoes gone?
What is the mosquito population in your neck-of-the-woods?
OK all you conspiracy buffs put on your tin-foil hats and let’s take a mental stroll. This entire summer I have noted a surprising decrease in the number of mosquitoes. My parents live right along the South Platte and their pasture (birthplace every spring of TENS OF THOUSANDS of tadpoles) was filled with water most of the spring. I’ve known the area well for over 50 years.
They always have mosquitoes. LOTS of mosquitoes. And with this spring, normally the mosquito population would be way above average (and trust me, average is pretty bad).
Yet this summer the mosquito population is WAY down. Way down. I live in a SW suburb of Denver… mosquito population WAY down. You can sit out all evening and never be bothered by even a single one.
So what natural process could be driving this? Or perhaps it is not a natural process?
Perhaps the government is far more concerned about the Zika virus than they are letting on? Perhaps the government has taken pro-active measures in an attempt to minimize the spread of Zika?
When the West Nile virus first popped up, some hypothesized it was a test done by some nefarious player to see how a mosquito-borne virus would/could spread and potentially be used as a weapon.
So one would hope the government would have some type of plan(s) in place to deal with a mosquito-borne virus that presented a threat to the population of the US.
Did the government implement one of these plans in an attempt to control/limit the Zika transmission across the country? If they can keep the lid on it that good ol’ thing called winter will come along and put a halt to it for at least a number of months.
They would of course have to do this in secrecy. There is no way they could do so out in the open. Here in Colorado you see this type of thing with our good friend the prairie dog. If you have the misfortune of needing to get rid of a town of prairie dogs, good luck. You do so late at night (and cities/counties do this quite often) and the town just isn’t there the next day.
Otherwise you will end up fighting a small but zealous band of prairie dog supporters who will make your life miserable. In the People’s Republic of Boulder, they spend huge amounts of money to re-locate prairie dogs… all while decrying the lack of funds for schools, roads, etc. It is also always lost on them that there is already a functioning eco-system wherever they plan to dump the prairie dogs; their actions causing tremendous disruption. But of course they won’t be around to see this and they can feel good about themselves because of what wonderful people they are via “saving” these specific prairie dogs.
So the feds would have no choice but to do this on the sly.
So are the feds actively suppressing the mosquito population to both slow the spread of Zika and to learn about the effectiveness of such actions in preparation for an attack by a weaponized mosquito-borne virus?
But before we can take off our tin-foil hats, we need as Sherlock Holmes would say… more data.
So wherever you might live… how would you rate the mosquito population in your area versus historical numbers and what you might expect?
I have no idea whether the above is true or whether I even believe it… I just know there is a truly amazing decrease in our mosquito population in a year with a very wet spring. That ain’t the way it works here in Colorado.
I’m in southeast Texas, the mosquito population is a little “too much”, but it’s normal around here.
Also, keep some pseudofed aka pseudoephedrine (can be purchased over the counter) on hand. It helps. Benadryl also can help.
Billions up here in Elmore County, Alabama...
I think at least half of them have sampled me, too.
I’m in the same area; not many mosquitos but the gnats are off the charts where I work (Arlington area)
I assumed that after that mild winter we’d have a bumper crop of mosquito by now.
It is not wise to talk about such things. We don’t want mosquitoes put on an endangered species list and get fined or go to jail for slapping at them.
Yep...I catch them and let them loose in my apartment.
I’m north of Argyle.
No pest issues whatsoever.
Low to nothing outside Houston.
San Antonio- I noticed a very large reduction in the mosquitoes in my area the last couple months and I think it’s due to the hot weather. They were around a whole lot more before the cold weather ended.
No mosquitoes in Dameron Valley, UT in 13 years. It is pretty dry here in high desert country.
Fine mesh mosquito suits are a must have for outdoor activities...
This was the 70’s.
Canvas tents, canvas backpacks with simple leather straps that dug into your collarbones.
Yea we had mesh on the tent openings.
At least on our trip to Horse Lake, we didn’t have to do the Horrible Horse Portage. Our counselor was a native and wintered in the area.
He knew a shortcut. A 400 rod portage would have been a *itch. Or so I was told.
LOL. I once did that in Boca Raton, FL. Well, close.
When we had an ant problem (my roommate at the time was less than cleanly), I openned the front door, snuck out, waited 15 minutes, and then chased the little buggers who were sunning themselves on the patio into the apartment.
Waited a few days, no more ants.
Then just opened the front door and make a lot of noise. Geckos fled.
Free pest control!
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