If you’ve been swatting away more mosquitoes than usual this September, you’re not alone. The City of Portage la Prairie has noticed the late-season buzz too, thanks to a mix of warm, humid weather and recent rainfall. “Within the last few days, we have noticed an uptick in mosquito population,” says Paul Ziesmann, superintendent of public works. “At this time, though, we really don’t have any plans for any fogging, but it is something that we will continue to monitor.” Mosquitoes thrive when both daytime and nighttime temperatures stay high, which shortens their life cycles and drives up populations. The unusual September heat, paired with extra rain, has created ideal conditions for a temporary boom. “We do see a population increase right now due to some of the recent rains and that unseasonable heat that we normally don’t get in September. But we are expecting the overnight temperatures to drop in the coming weeks, and we should scientifically see a decrease," he explains. Despite the current surge, Portage has actually had one of its lowest mosquito counts in years. Ziesmann credits both the dry summer and the city’s three-pronged mosquito control program: ongoing monitoring and trapping, larviciding through a third-party contractor, and fogging if needed. “So far this year, we’ve really just been focusing on that monitoring and larviciding and haven’t had to fog,” he notes. Residents can also do their part by cutting down breeding grounds in their own backyards. “Those bird baths, or old pails that seem to be sitting out, they collect water. If residents want to help out with the mosquito population, make sure anything with standing water is emptied and dry," he adds. For now, the city will keep monitoring mosquito numbers, but with cooler nights on the way, officials expect the buzzing to ease off soon.