We wrestled with the polar vortex all winter long. Now it looks like we could be wrestling with a mosquito vortex all summer long.
Ned Walker is a professor of entomology, microbiology, and molecular genetics at Michigan State University.
Walker anticipates a bad mosquito season this summer. Right now in lower Michigan, for a variety of ecological factors, we have three varieties of mosquitoes flying around at the same time.
The first species is the spring mosquito, a consequence of the polar vortex. They live in woodland pools that were formed by melted snow and spring rains.
“Our mosquitos are cold-hardy; they are used to the northern conditions,” Walker says.
The second species is the flood plain mosquito, which hatches after heavy rainfall in the spring.
The third is the summer flood water mosquito. Their larvae live in places that stay wet from a half-inch of rain or more after seven to 10 days.
Walker says there are about 60 different types of mosquitos in Michigan.
*Listen to full interview above.
