Mosquitoes emerge three weeks ahead of schedule

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They are here, and they are early. Mosquitoes and other insects are currently emerging in various parts of Finland up to 3-4 weeks ahead of schedule, entomologist Juhani Itämies from the University of Oulu reports.
      “There are plenty of insects, and it is easy to net interesting specimens”, Itämies enthuses.
      In the southwest of Finland one can already observe such gadfly species that normally appear only after Midsummer.
      From the Mediterranean and other southern locations butterflies such as the Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), and the Large White or Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae) have already migrated to Finland. Once they multiply in Finland there is a definite chance for some excellent displays of colour in our parks, Itämies promises.
     
Itämies refrains from issuing an official mosquito forecast, but says a fair number of the bloodsucking pests can be expected to add discomfort to the midsummer-night festivities. The long and dry spring was not favourable for mosquito larvae, but the recent rains have attributed to the sudden profusion of the little critters in many areas.
      An Enontekiö-based village and culture society namedJatunin tarha has no such qualms and predicts that the summer of 2007 will see a record number of mosquitoes almost everywhere in the country apart from Western Lapland. The society’s prediction is largely based on folklore. Unsurprisingly, Enontekiö is situated in Western Lapland. Lapland is normally famed (or infamous) for having the most ornery and bloodthirsty females of Finland's mosquito population.
     
It has been a while since the fluctuation of mosquito populations in Finland was last under scientific observation, Itämies notes.
      A long-term follow-up study would render information, for example, concerning the spreading and cycles of diseases such as the arbovirus-related Pogosta disease or Tularaemia, also known as rabbit fever, both of which are spread by mosquitoes.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Rainy and warm weather brought exceptionally large numbers of mosquitos this summer (25.8.2005)

Helsingin Sanomat