Summer mosquitoes buzz into autumn
Members of a civic volunteer group in Seocho-gu, Seoul, release loaches into Banpo Stream. Loaches are natural enemies of mosquitoes, as the freshwater fish feed on the bugs’ larvae, devouring over 1,000 a day. / Korea Times file
By Ko Dong-hwan
Mosquitoes usually emerge during the scorching summer from wet ditches and pits of stagnant water. But this year they have chosen autumn to feed on hapless humans.
Many people are suffering itchy bites after assuming the bugs are not around in fall and not taking precautions.
And it is not entirely their fault, as people are not used to seeing the insects in October when the windy weather and chilly air do not remind them of the bloodsuckers.
The unusual autumn sightings are largely due to climate changes in summer. While mosquitoes are most active between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius, this summer saw weeks of extreme heat reaching 35 degrees. Many days of drought also made it impossible for the bugs to find stagnant water to lay eggs.
The summer extended into early October, giving mosquitoes more time to lay eggs until the temperature gets too cold ― below 10 degrees Celsius.
Wednesday signaled a sudden drop in the mercury to 11 degrees in Seoul, marking the onset of fall.
As people turned on heating, the warm temperatures and moderate humidity indoors contributed to good habitats for the bugs to breed in sewerage pipes and underground parking lots during the day ― and put the bite on humans at night.