Augusta Mosquitoes Surge as Heat and Drought Concentrate Water in Storm Drains

2 articles · Updated · The Augusta Chronicle · Jun 3

Mosquito numbers are rising quickly in Augusta as prolonged heat and drought leave more stagnant water trapped in storm drains, pipes and catch basins.
Dry weather is not suppressing breeding: without regular rain to flush urban systems, larvae can thrive in concentrated standing water, and eggs can remain dormant for months until water returns.
Georgia’s varied landscapes already support dozens of mosquito species, but only a smaller share pose major health risks, including the Southern house mosquito and Asian tiger mosquito.
Warming temperatures are also pushing species that were more common farther south northward, expanding the mix of mosquitoes appearing in Augusta and across Georgia.
Residents are being urged to empty or scrub water-holding containers, cover rain barrels and cisterns, seal exposed pipes and vents, and fix septic cracks before wetter conditions arrive.