WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Wet spring could bug Vermonters this summer

Wet spring could bug Vermonters this summer

Waterbury, Vermont - May 11, 2011

Another potential impact from the wet spring and all of the flooding might be a buggy summer.

Mosquitoes and other biting bugs like black flies and horseflies could be plentiful this summer. The rain and flooding left lots of standing water-- prime breeding ground for mosquitoes.

"The potential is there to have a great mosquito year, or a bad mosquito year-- depending on what side of the swamp you're on," said Jon Turmel, the state entomologist. "But as the lake recedes we could have significant breeding areas for mosquitoes."

Turmel recommends people try to drain any areas of standing water near their homes. Bugs can even breed in old tires, buckets and tin cans that have stagnant water in them.

As for the region's declining bat population, Turmel says there is no research on whether that will impact mosquito season, but he says bats eat only a small portion of the overall mosquito population.

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