Mosquito populations in Saskatchewan have surged to levels far above the 10-year average during the week of July 23 [1, 2].
The spike in insect activity increases the risk of pest-borne irritation and potential health concerns for residents in urban and rural areas. This boom follows a period of unusually wet conditions this summer and the hatching of dormant eggs [2, 3].
Georgiana Antochi-C, an entomologist for the City of Saskatoon, said mosquito counts in Saskatoon reached an average of 168 per trap last week [1]. For comparison, the average count at the same time last year was five per trap [1].
Similar trends are appearing in Regina and its surrounding regions. Regina reported an average of 200 mosquitoes per trap last week, compared to 10 per trap during the same period last year [1]. In rural areas outside Regina, the numbers were even higher, with over 400 mosquitoes per trap [1]. In 2025, those same rural areas recorded only eight mosquitoes per trap [1].
Data regarding the scale of the increase varies between sources. Some reports indicate current counts are roughly double what they were at the same point last summer [2]. However, trap data from Saskatoon and Regina suggest a much steeper increase, approximately 20 to 33 times the previous year's levels [1].
Experts said the current boom may be traced back several years due to the nature of dormant eggs [3]. The combination of long-term egg viability and recent rainfall has created a significant population spike across the province [2, 3].
“Mosquito counts in Saskatoon reached an average of 168 per trap last week.”
The dramatic discrepancy between 2025 and 2026 data suggests a volatile ecological cycle driven by weather extremes. Because mosquito populations can remain dormant for years, a single season of heavy rainfall can trigger a massive hatch, overwhelming standard municipal pest control measures and increasing the demand for public health interventions.
