All signs point to a severe mosquito season, summer.
According to a biologist from Lappeenranta, the snowy winter months, like right now, usually create ideal conditions for insects Kimmo Saarinen.
The thick snow cover currently covers most of Finland. According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute, a record amount of snow fell in Eastern Finland in February.
As the snow melts, the puddles become habitats for mosquitoes. It takes about two weeks for a freshly hatched mosquito to take off.
When the snow starts to melt, there will be plenty of puddles, Saarinen says. However, he warns that we need to wait and see in order to make more accurate predictions.
A warm, rainless spring would ensure snow evaporation. On the other hand, mild weather and increased rainfall would cause even more stagnant water.
The more puddles we have, the more mosquitoes there will be, Saarinen says.
The heat of last summer caused a population catastrophe
Last summer, most of Finland’s mosquitoes were gone by July. This was due to a sudden heat wave, which resulted in them hatching at the same time and the puddles drying out.
The mosquito season usually lasts all summer. Different mosquito species have varying life cycles and egg germination times, ensuring eggs hatch throughout the summer. The temperature of water bodies that act as nesting areas also affects the germination time.
The snow cover also provides ideal living conditions for billions of other small animals, such as ticks and earthworms, Saarinen says. A snow-free winter created much harsher conditions for these organisms, he points out.
Source: The Nordic Page