Epi Week #25 - 2016 General Statements

Now that numbers are starting to come in from all projects, we can see that submissions are actually up, in fact double what they have been for the past few years. The number of pools submitted is actually above what it was in Epi Week 25 of 2012 (the last time we did an aerial spray), though it should be noted that some projects have increased surveillance efforts and updated to more efficient traps over the past few years. It is interesting to be observing this jump with drought conditions continuing for most of the state, and many projects commenting that mosquito habitat is drying up. The jump in submissions is at least partly due to an increase in Coquillettidia perturbans in many project areas. It is unclear how these freshwater mosquitoes that utilize cattails for habitat have somehow managed to thrive; perhaps the lack of influx of fresh water that would normally occur from rain is creating better habitat for that species by allowing more detritus to accumulate in the substrate.

Weather

As predicted by our weather expert last week, the area of the state under drought conditions continues to grow, with almost the entire state (except for parts of Berkshire County) now at either abnormally Dry (yellow) or Moderate Drought (peach). Scattered storms are expected to pass through mid-week of Epi Week 26, but they won’t likely leave behind enough precipitation to reduce drought conditions. By the end of June the state will be down 2-2.5” of rain vs. the average for June. They will, however, usher in the first truly humid conditions we’ve had this spring or summer. Long-term forecasts are predicting a mid-July heat wave.

As you can see from the Epi Week 25 map below, it was another dry week across the state, except for some localized precipitation in Berkshire County and coastal Essex County.