Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Fire destroys west Medford mobile home ... Jackson County deputy stops suicidal man who was stabbing himself ... Man threatened to detonate bomb during arrest ... Fire destroys west Medford mobile home ... Jackson County deputy stops suicidal man who was stabbing himself ... Man threatened to detonate bomb during arrest ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Warm weather brought hibernating mosquitoes out Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 7, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 7, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News It seems as though during the winter I've seen a lot of mosquitoes this year. Is there some sort of mosquito problem going on? — "Concerned Citizen" We happen to be citizens with concerns too, you know, but we'll bite ... er, we'll take this question on for you. We, too, have seen a few of those summertime pests this past January, and we too have wondered what to make of it. So to answer your query, we reached out to Jackson County Vector Control Manager Jim Lunders, who is a biologist. You can rest easy knowing that it's not the Pestilence horseman edging out his friends War and Famine on their way to the apocalypse. Rather, certain species of mosquitoes hibernate during the winter and wake up when the weather warms up. He assured us that the mosquitoes you're seeing aren't breeding. "They're not hatching right now. They're actually overwintering from last fall," Lunders said. "Their whole metabolism is based on the outside temperatures." The early appearance of those hibernating skeeters, most likely of the culex genus, is actually good news for mosquito-control efforts come springtime, according to Lunders. "Actually, some of those mosquitoes will die because they spent too much time being active when there isn't anything to eat," Lunders said, adding that nectar from flowers is their primary food source. "They're looking for an energy source." With coming cooler temperatures, the sightings should diminish as the mosquitoes go back into hibernation. More frequently, Lunders said, winter mosquito sightings come from folks bringing inside firewood. "That's usually what we see, but last week was unseasonably warm, so quite a few came out," he said. "It happens almost every single year." Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.   MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 7, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501