It seems local communities are divided on whether or not it is a bad mosquito year. Resident reports from Mitchell, La Broquerie, and Marchand are suggesting that the pesky insects are already abounding in numbers but in Steinbach, Parks and Recreation Manager Russ Dyck says that is simply not the case.

“To date, nothing really to report in terms of our adult mosquito count," he states. "The traps are mostly coming up with nothing.”

Dyck says his crews began larviciding a few weeks ago and, while they have found the occasional mosquito eggs, the strong winds and powerful heat earlier this week have dried up most standing water.

"It's not overly wet in most places," observes Dyck who expects Steinbach's mosquito population to remain low, at least until the next big rainfall.

Dyck says he cannot really speak for other communities but says if property owners elsewhere are already seeing a surge in mosquitoe numbers they are likely living in areas with more residual moisture.