Altai biologist explains low mosquito numbers
Mosquitoes are unusually scarce in Altai Krai
Residents of Altai Krai have been pleasantly surprised this year: the usual mosquito invasion that normally turns summer into an ordeal has barely materialized. Why have the bloodsuckers become so scarce, and should people relax in August? The situation was clarified by Tatyana Antonenko, a candidate of biological sciences and associate professor at the Department of Zoology and Physiology at Altai State University (AltSU).
According to her, a whole chain of natural events affected the insect population. The expert explained that a sharp April warming «awakened» overwintering mosquitoes, but the May frosts that followed proved fatal for them. As a result, not only adult insects died but also egg clutches with larvae.
Additional help came from birds that actively destroyed the insects, and from the relatively modest flooding of the Ob River — the floodplain meadows where hordes of mosquitoes usually breed did not become an ideal incubator for them this time.
Then a prolonged heat wave came into play. It quickly dried up small temporary reservoirs, depriving mosquitoes of the chance to reproduce en masse. However, the biologist warns that the victory over the insects is only temporary, and their breeding hotspots have not disappeared.
The main danger at the end of the summer season lies in our own hands. Tatyana Antonenko reminds us that garden plots and building basements are «incubators» for mosquitoes. Barrels of water for irrigation, leaking taps, and damp basements create ideal conditions for their survival. To avoid becoming a victim of bites in August, the expert advises tightly covering water containers with lids or nets and keeping plumbing in good repair.
The expert clarifies that mosquitoes are not just a nuisance but part of the ecosystem. They are food for birds, dragonflies, fish, and amphibians. The complete disappearance of the insects would disrupt the natural balance.
