A summer without mosquitoes

Observation by Mike Brubaker:

I have noticed an almost total absence of mosquitoes this summer. In fact I only remember getting bit once or twice in June. Besides that … nothing and we have left the windows open without any buzzing invaders. Definetely no bug spray applications. I recall there was an unusual large number of dragon flies early in the summer, so I thought that might explain it. No swallows to speak or, at least around our place. But it’s been months since I have seen any dragon flies. Incidentally, the official insect of Alaska is actually the four-spotted skimmer dragonfly. If it had been a dry summer, I would not be so surprised. But this has been one of the wettest in memory. I have talked to friends in Anchorage who say the same. I sent a message to Rick Thoman in Fairbanks, asking about their mosquito season and about the ability to predict mosquito seasons based on weather conditions. This based on the recent article "Where Mosquito Season Getting Longer" (attached) published in the Washington Post.

Comment by Rick Thoman:

Seems like in Fairbanks-land it's been "near to below average" mosquito season. Certainly bad early in the summer in the usual places (e.g. back in the trees at Creamer's field). Since early July though not a lot, which is usual. To be honest, after 34 years living in the Interior, I can't find any correlation between weather and mosquito intensity. Some years that seem like they should be high (late snowmelt) aren't and some drought June's have had terrible mosquitoes. Some places are always bad, some places rarely bad, and some bad/not bad seemingly at random. I recall Brian Brettschneider came to the same conclusion with Anchorage area mosquitos. Also, I saw on FB a friend was out walking dogs at Chena Lakes Rec area a couple evenings ago and said the mosquitoes were terrible: June-like. Very strange.

Comment by Brian Brettschneider:

I've been telling anyone who will listen that here in Anchorage it has been the most benign mosquito season that I can remember. Over the years I have looked into all the climate variables that I can think of to look for correlations and none seem to work out. Late snow melt off - no. Cool, wet spring - no. Wet summer - no. Warm spring - no. Hot summer - no. It seems like the worst mosquito seasons really ramp up by late May. Once that didn't happen this year I knew the season wasn't going to be a problem. Early in the season, I look for mosquito larvae in ponds to get a hint on how the season will start. Both last year and this year there were practically no mosquito larvae that I could find. This leads me to think that the start of the season, and therefore the severity of the season, is determined by what does or doesn't happen over the winter or even in the preceding fall. Not scientific, but my hunch.

Comment by Wilson Justin:

Absence of mosquitoes. So gradual that it’s difficult to place in time. The past 2 summers were very noticeable in terms of absence but my first recollection of the low mosquito presence was not about the mosquitoes themselves. It was the absence of Bats and Dragonflies in the summer of 2013 which was the first totally outdoor summer I had been in for many decades. I did not notice anything special that June when I arrived home on the Nabesna road but by august when the dragonflies and bats should have been conspicuous, they were none. Still, I made no connection. Summer of 2014 went then summer of 2015. Finally in 2016 I began to probe the question and concluded it was the something in the nature of their reproductive cycles. But I then noticed new bugs and different flying insects but not many mosquitoes. I began then to watch for mosquitoes and found changes. For instance, the late fall insects like the no-see-ums were actually showing up first in the spring and there were several other types of insects not noticed in the past. So yes. Change and absence are normal now, sadly the general public seems to have no inclination as to potential outcomes.

Comment from Gemini:

This observation of a nearly mosquito-free summer in Anchorage, Alaska, aligns with several other reports in the LEO Network. While some areas of Alaska and Canada have reported average or even higher-than-average mosquito populations in recent years (e.g., Ester, Alaska in 2022, Yukon in 2020), others have also noted a decline, particularly in the southcentral and interior regions. Observations from Fairbanks in 2020 and Anchorage in 2018 also describe a decrease in mosquitoes, prompting speculation about contributing factors like drier springs or unusual snowpack levels. The observation from Chistochina in 2020 is particularly interesting, as it highlights the variability of insect populations. While mosquitoes were less numerous, other biting insects thrived, suggesting that specific environmental factors favor certain species.This year's lack of mosquito larvae, as noted by Brian Brettschneider, further complicates the issue and emphasizes the need for more research into the complex lifecycle of mosquitoes and their response to changing environmental conditions. The connection between reduced mosquito presence and the decline of their predators, such as swallows and dragonflies, as mentioned in the observation from the Nabesna road, warrants further investigation. This observation aligns with the article "Hearty welcome to Alaska's mosquito-gobbling swallows," highlighting the crucial role swallows play in regulating mosquito populations. Understanding these intricate relationships within the ecosystem is essential for predicting future trends and mitigating potential negative impacts, such as the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, as noted in the observation from Whitehorse in 2021.