Mosquito mayhem
Friday 17 August 2007
Across the country people are noticing increased mosquito numbers appearing in their homes and gardens. Months of rain followed by a warm August have provided the ideal breeding grounds for the flying insects.
© ZSL
Paul Pearce-Kelly, senior curator of invertebrates at ZSL has this to say. “It’s the combination of wet weather followed by warmer conditions that encourages the greater numbers, which we are already seeing. Changing weather patterns are creating more favourable breeding conditions. A combination of climate changing, creating warmer, wetter winters, and increased travel, of humans and cargo is producing the perfect environment for mosquito’s to breed in large numbers. “
There are at least 30 species of mosquito in the UK, the most common being culex pipiens. To avoid large amounts of mosquito’s breeding in your garden make sure that you remove any containers with water left in them. Change the water in your bird bath every few days and do not leave your patio heater on, they are attracted to the carbon dioxide they produce.
