Are Mosquitoes Expected to Be Worse in Lubbock This Year?

Mosquitos are more than just a nuisance; they can carry serious illnesses like West Nile Virus. As we look ahead to warmer months here in Lubbock, do we need to stock up on insect repellent? The short answer is a very likely YES, unfortunately, and here's a look at the factors coming into play, and how we can help mitigate the mosquito population in Lubbock.

Read More: 3 More Natural Ways To Get Rid of These Massive Texas Mosquitoes

Ideal Mosquito Weather

Warmer, milder, and wetter weather is perfect for Lubbock gardens and lawns, but it's also perfect for mosquitoes.  According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, Lubbock is predicted to have a warmer and wetter Spring than usual, and a wetter Summer than usual (thanks in part to a likely shift to El Niño weather patterns later this year). If we do not have another hard freeze before April (the typical month for the last freeze), we can likely expect many more mosquitoes.

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Read More: Preventing Mosquito Bites (And Illnesses) In Texas

One point for wind, though- mosquitoes are not very strong flyers, so our windy days actually keep them away, and hopefully keep some from laying eggs and making more mosquitoes.

How To Mitigate Mosquitos

Get rid of any standing water on your property. Buckets, bird baths, tall grass/ weeds and puddles are all perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Additionally, watering at night can create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes because water on top of the soil/ grass can be used by mosquitoes to make more of themselves. If mosquitoes are bad in a particular area, you can report it to Lubbock Vector Control.

How to Protect Your Person

The CDC has a great and detailed list of repellents, but to summarize, use repellants and wear long-sleeve shirts and pants. Personally, I like to run a fan while I'm on the back porch, just make sure not to leave it out when you're done.