Cool Spring Means Later Mosquito Hatch

UNDATED -- A cool start to spring has one big benefit...it's delaying the start of the mosquito season.

Jim Stark is with the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District in the Twin Cities. He says it's pushed the mosquito hatch back a few weeks. Normally, the mosquito hatch happens about the last week in April or the first week in May.  He says the cold weather has meant the majority of mosquitoes probably won't hatch until mid-to-late May.

The bad news is that the cool weather won't impact the number of mosquitoes, just their hatching date.

Stark says you can cut down on the number of mosquitoes in your yard by emptying any and all containers that have standing water. He says bird baths, old tires, buckets and planters are prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Stark says even though we don't need to worry too much about the West Nile Virus until closer to mid-summer, he says it's still a good idea to use repellant just in case.