Experts address mosquito concerns as weather warms
WESTERLY, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island officials are urging people to take precautions as mosquito activity begins to rise with warmer temperatures.
Surveillance typically starts in June, but in towns like Westerly, prevention begins much earlier.
The state uses biological control methods to target mosquitoes while they’re still in larval stages.
“In the town of Westerly, puts pellets down to control larva mosquitoes in Chapman Swamp, and they’re just about to do that, that may happen this week. They’ve done that every year since 1997,” RIDEM Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment Chief Kenneth Ayars said.
According to health and environmental officials, targeting larvae is safer for humans and wildlife than spraying to kill adult mosquitoes. Experts recommend eliminating breeding grounds like standing water in yards, gutters, and buckets.
That’s because mosquito control doesn’t just impact bugs — it can affect the entire ecosystem.
“If you’re using insecticides that kill insects, they might kill caterpillars which birds need to feed their baby birds so it’s really important that we try to protect, you know, the native insects we have in our yards,” URI Department of Plant Science and Entomology Research Associate Lisa Tewksbury said.
The Asian tiger mosquito, known for its daytime bites, is spreading faster in densely populated urban areas like Providence, Central Falls, and Pawtucket. Officials recommend to keep your surroundings clean and dry to stay protected.
Testing is set to begin in the coming weeks, and the state plans to release mosquito surveillance results weekly through the summer.