A Winnipeg bug expert says little creatures might be pestering you this summer.

After months of the cold, many Winnipeggers may have forgotten about the bugs, but Public Works hasn't.

Many people may be noticing a sticky clear substance on their vehicles and lawn chairs. Ken Nawolsky, Superintendent of Insect Control, says this is Aphid secretion.

"What is happening is they are feeding on the sap of the tree, and they exude kind of a sugary exudate and that is falling on people's furniture, their vehicles, or on the ground and it is causing a mess," Nawolsky says.

He says this is not harmful.

The heat and lack of rain mean these bugs will continue to be in larger-than-usual numbers for the next month. The superintendent says these bugs have an incredible 7-day reproduction cycle, but that cycle makes it hard for pesticides to work. 

"If it really bothers people they can just use soap and water," Nawolsky says about cleaning the mess. 

Nawolsky says there is no effective control method for these and its natural predator cannot keep up with the rising numbers.

 

Mosquitoes

mosquitoes(File photo)

Manitoba's old foe will be back this summer, but what this means is still up in the air.

"We will start to know over the coming weeks where the mosquitoes that are tested are carrying the West Nile Virus."

City trap counts are at 15. The city could typically fog with one hundred or more. Partnering with the province, Nawolsky says Winnipeg and Brandon are doing additional surveillance to look for the West Nile Virus.

"West Nile is always here, every year," Nawolsky says.

Hot, dry weather like what Winnipeg is experiencing builds up the mosquito population, and migrating birds carry the virus, which could be deadly to humans. The testing in partnership with Brandon will find out of the virus is in mosquitoes.

To prevent the bugs from building in numbers, Nawolsky says pools of water need to be emptied in yards, including over the long weekend.

"Make sure that you dump or cover your containers so there is no standing water around for mosquitos to lay their eggs in."

Mosquitoes are most active at night. He suggests wearing long sleeves and pants when possible to prevent bites.