22-04-2025
April showers bring mosquito surge to the Ozarks
Everyone knows it's been a rainy April. Springfield has measured over 10″ of rain in a month that averages just shy of 5″. In fact, we are on track to break the record for the total rainfall in Springfield in April! Many spots in the Ozarks are on that same track to break monthly rainfall records.
Temperatures have been average for April. The warmest temperature so far was 84° on the 13th, while the coldest temperature was 27° on the morning of the 7th. The overall monthly temperature average is currently 55.5°, 0.2° below normal.
Consistent rain and consistent mild temperatures come together to create the perfect breeding conditions for an unpopular pest: mosquitoes. Mosquito season in the Ozarks runs from April through September and this insect loves warm and wet weather.
Mosquitoes will become more common as temperatures warm. This year, mosquito populations in the Ozarks may be higher than normal thanks to the extremely favorable weather conditions we've seen in April. Mosquitoes need standing water to lay their eggs. Given all the rain, there is plenty of standing water around the Ozarks.
How can you lower the mosquito population? Dump out areas of standing water! Buckets, barrels, flower pots, old tires, and any other containers that could contain standing water should be flipped and drained. This reduces the number of options mosquitoes have to lay their larvae.
Other steps helpful in mitigating mosquito populations include using pesticides and keeping the yard mowed. When outside, you can keep mosquitoes away by using bug repellent, wearing long sleeves, and avoiding wearing perfumes or other fragrances that can attract mosquitoes.
Now, if you are bitten by a mosquito, you can expect nothing more than an irritable and itchy bite area. However, mosquitoes do carry diseases, including West Nile virus and the Zika virus. Less than 1% of mosquitoes carry the West Nile virus, and of those bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus, just 1% become ill. Therefore, your risk of getting West Nile virus is very low, but you likely won't want to risk it!
Visit the links below for more information about mosquitoes in the Ozarks:
Missouri Department of ConservationMissouri State ParksMosquito Squad
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