PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The calendar may say October, the leaves may change, but the yellow jackets and mosquitos are relentless.
From the school break, which is forced by the yellow jackets inside, or from parties outside, which are annoyed by mosquitoes, the humming is hard to miss.
“It’s not uncommon to see a lot more activity for yellow vests and some of the other stinging insects at this time of year,” says Ehrlich pest control entomologist Dr. Chad Gore.
Dr. Gore says their work in the beehive is finished and “they are looking for places for the newly mated queens to find winter spots.”
Also, the beehives and nests are at the peak of the population.
He says the winter favorites are right where we live.
“Places on and around houses and land and so on,” he explains.
The honey bees are also currently in use.
“These colonies are mature colonies, so they are quite large at this point, or they can be quite large at this point,” says Dr. Gore.
Will the cold coming this weekend end the buzz?
Dr. Gore says it might slow her down a bit.
“Once we start getting those freezing nights and days, you’ll find that the activity is basically gone,” he says.
The important word there is freeze.
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As for the mosquitoes, they are also in place.
“It is certainly not uncommon to have mosquitoes well into autumn,” explains Dr. Gore.
With two confirmed human cases of the West Nile virus in our area so far, Dr. Gore that the cooler temperatures mornings and evenings will help with some species of mosquitos.
“Our West Nile virus vectors are usually these nocturnal walkers. So if we get these cold patches, you will see less biting activity from them during those biting times, ”he says.
However, he warns that when it gets warm again they will be back. So keep the bug spray handy.
“We should see some more mosquito activity for the next few weeks, you know, or at least until we get a really good frost.”
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