Grand Cayman, Tuesday, 22 August 2023 – The Mosquito Research and Control Unit (MRCU) would like to advise the public that mosquito numbers are higher than they have been over the past months due to the consistent rainfall experienced this month.

Dr Alan Wheeler, Director of the MRCU, explains: “So far in August there has been rainfall everyday apart from 2 days. Typically mosquitoes will emerge 12 days after heavy rainfall. We saw an increase in mosquito numbers from August 16th and numbers are likely to stay high for the next week or so as further mosquitoes emerge from more recent rainfall events.”

Dr. Wheeler notes that the MRCU was prepared for the mosquito emergence resulting from the heavy rainfall and treated over 12,500 acres by air last week with residual larvicide. In addition to the larvicide operations, the MRCU also conducted routine adulticiding operations.  Since August 1st,   the MRCU has conducted 8 aerial control and 95 truck mounted ground ULV operations against adult mosquitoes.

“The highest recent rainfall was on August 20th with an average of 13.6 cm collected in the MRCU rain gauges. Mosquitoes are expected to emerge from this rainfall event in the first week of September,” Dr Wheeler adds. “MRCU will continue with its control operations until mosquito numbers are back to acceptable numbers in all areas.”

For more information, contact the MRCU on 949-2557.