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Mosquitoes Out Earlier This Year

Last updated on Wednesday, March 21, 2012

(WEST LAFAYETTE) - Whether they sting, bite or just simply irritate you the bugs are here and they’re here to stay.

Krista Henery, of WLF reports typically, mosquitoes don't come out until at least April or May, but these record breaking temperatures have caused these pests to start biting early.

Spring has sprung early. The temperatures are here, the colorful flowers are here and so are the mosquitos.

"There's been several reports of people who have found mosquitos out and about already in mid-March," Catherine Hill, associate professor of entomology at Purdue said.

Hill said it's not common to hear all the extra buzz in the air this early in the season. But with record high temperatures, Hill said these pests have emerged early.

"It's quite early. Normally we would see some of these insects in April and May. But we are just seeing them so early," Hill said.

Hill said it's Mother Nature to blame. But while there's some extra buzz early on, Hill said that doesn't necessarily mean there will be more bugs than normal 'bugging' you later in the season.

"It entirely depends on the temperature and rainfall," Hill said. "Weather conditions are extremely localized so it entirely depends on what happens in a particular geographic location as to how the insects will develop from here on out."

So while you may be sweating sooner than usual, Hill said just be prepared to swat bugs sooner, too.

However, it's still too early to determine whether or not this will affect the West Nile virus this year.

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