Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin Residents Should Brace for More of These Menaces

The excessive rainfall, abundance of severe thunderstorms, and increased tornadic activity has made this summer one to remember for Tri-Staters. The weather has been as inconsistent as it's been wet, and with that comes an influx of creatures most of us vehemently despise.

With all the rain, flooding, and humidity brings mosquitoes to the upper Midwest region. This year, however, you might think the buzzing has grew louder. Although it's not quite as loud as the two significant cicada broods plaguing Illinois residents, it's still a buzz that has definitely grown louder this year, thanks to the hectic weather.

The Telegraph Herald recently spoke with Entomologist Ryan Smith and his research team at Iowa State University, who track the population of mosquitoes. They use traps in six different counties, the closest to Dubuque and the Tri-State area being Black Hawk and Johnson.

Their data shows that the average number of mosquitoes they've trapped is "exponentially higher" than the number caught during the same time-frame last year, per Telegraph Herald.

Meanwhile, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the worst mosquito surge in 10 years has hit the area and surrounding communities. Per Dakota News Now, dozens of residents halted their Fourth of July plans due to the ubiquity of the buzzing, stinging menaces.

In addition, the City of Sioux Falls has been diligent in collecting and trapping mosquitoes to stop the pests from being nuisances, and more importantly, from spreading diseases:

We run the traps every day. Our lab team, they count every single mosquito in the trap. One of the traps last week had 4,600 mosquitos in it, one trap. - Sioux Falls Environmental Health Manager Dominic Miller, per Dakota News Now

Meanwhile, on the homefront, Dubuque County Conservation Outreach Specialist Kaytlan Moeller told the Telegraph Herald that the increase in mosquitoes can particularly be seen in parks near the Mississippi River:

Right now, almost all of our Mississippi River parks either still have water actively in them or are receding and have lots of mud and flood debris to pick up. So anywhere where there’s standing water, we’re definitely seeing a higher population of mosquitoes and black flies. - Kaytlan Moeller, per the Telegraph Herald

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It's a problem that doesn't have easy solutions nor answers. The most proactive things residents can do is apply copious amounts of bug spray, and perhaps elect to spend more time around bonfires, which do a great job at limiting the presence of mosquitoes. One thing my family often did was light Tiki torches in our backyard. The smell of citronella deters mosquitoes, and limits the bites you receive when you sit outside.

Read more on the Telegraph Herald's website and Dakota News Now's website.