Mosquitos in Maryland? Is it buggy in the summer? (Salisbury: house, live)

[bluetobe]

How buggy is it in Maryland? Does it coincide with the heat? Is it worse or better closer to the water? For example, Davidsonville vs. Edgewater for example. I've always wanted a screened in porch so I could enjoy the outside year round, just wondering how necessary it is in that part of the country. Any information would be appreciated. TIA

[kjg1963]

Lots of mosquitos and it is worse near the water (although stagnant or calm waters are their ideal breeding grounds). They are a nuisance from the middle of spring until at least late September.

[bluetobe]

So if I want to enjoy the outdoors - a screened in porch. To confirm, it's worse closer to the bay? Just double checking, I'm from the west coast, and there it is just the opposite - the ocean breeze lessens the impact of mosquitos. I don't know much about the Chesapeake Bay area, the weather, conditions, etc. Thank you so much - appreciate the info.

[kjg1963]

Originally Posted by bluetobe

So if I want to enjoy the outdoors - a screened in porch. To confirm, it's worse closer to the bay? Just double checking, I'm from the west coast, and there it is just the opposite - the ocean breeze lessens the impact of mosquitos. I don't know much about the Chesapeake Bay area, the weather, conditions, etc. Thank you so much - appreciate the info.

Depends on where on the bay. Many areas along the coast are marshy - ideal conditions for mosquitos. The bay also doesn't have breezes the same as from the ocean.

We live very close to the bay and have all kinds of waterways near us. We have a deck that is covered but not screened in. We use it all summer and enjoy sitting outside. I guess I'm more tolerant of mosquitos since I've dealt with them all my life (born and raised in Maryland).

I have noticed, however, that when we go to visit relatives on the Eastern Shore (near Salisbury) that the mosquitos are much more aggressive and pervasive (along with horse flies and gnats that also bite).

[North Beach Person]

It's not necessarily "worse" near the Bay. What you have to remember is that on either side of the Chesapeake is the Atlantic Coastal Plain which is intercut with streams and wetlands. Of course wetlands are more prevalent nearer the Bay but you'll find small marshes almost anywhere on both the Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland (to include most of Anne Arundel and lower Prince George's Counties).

Many jurisdictions have a program of regular spraying for mosquito control from about mid-May to mid-September, which can include aerial spraying in bad mosquito years. Last year, 2018, was one such bad year as was this year until July.

[MidValleyDad]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

It's not necessarily "worse" near the Bay. What you have to remember is that on either side of the Chesapeake is the Atlantic Coastal Plain which is intercut with streams and wetlands. Of course wetlands are more prevalent nearer the Bay but you'll find small marshes almost anywhere on both the Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland (to include most of Anne Arundel and lower Prince George's Counties).

Many jurisdictions have a program of regular spraying for mosquito control from about mid-May to mid-September, which can include aerial spraying in bad mosquito years. Last year, 2018, was one such bad year as was this year until July.

You may have mosquito control measures in some areas near the bay but the state cut the program several years ago (just when West Nile was rising) out here in central MD. They used to treat the storm water ponds in our town but the position at the state level was eliminated (I think it was in the Dept of Ag) and we have a terrible mosquito and gnat problem from early April until the solid freeze in the late fall.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by MidValleyDad

You may have mosquito control measures in some areas near the bay but the state cut the program several years ago (just when West Nile was rising) out here in central MD. They used to treat the storm water ponds in our town but the position at the state level was eliminated (I think it was in the Dept of Ag) and we have a terrible mosquito and gnat problem from early April until the solid freeze in the late fall.

Yeah, you and I talked about that awhile ago. An example of "penny wise and dollar foolish" since about 90% of the program cost comes out of MD Department of Ag funding with a big chunk coming from the feds. It literally is a couple pennies/resident for the County.

[MidValleyDad]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Yeah, you and I talked about that awhile ago. An example of "penny wise and dollar foolish" since about 90% of the program cost comes out of MD Department of Ag funding with a big chunk coming from the feds. It literally is a couple pennies/resident for the County.

It isn't that the county won't do it it is that Md dept of Ag cancelled the program out here

[kjg1963]

Originally Posted by MidValleyDad

It isn't that the county won't do it it is that Md dept of Ag cancelled the program out here

In the two areas I've lived in over the past 20 years, I don't remember ever seeing any type of mosquito control. However, family on the eastern shore have free yearly sprays. I don't know all the details on who does the spraying though (county or city?).

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by MidValleyDad

It isn't that the county won't do it it is that Md dept of Ag cancelled the program out here

Oh. I was under the impression that the County employee who did the mosquito control work retired and his position was eliminated/redirected.

Originally Posted by kjg1963

In the two areas I've lived in over the past 20 years, I don't remember ever seeing any type of mosquito control. However, family on the eastern shore have free yearly sprays. I don't know all the details on who does the spraying though (county or city?).

The County operates the program but the municipality can be included in the spraying. I think we spent, as a Town, around $4000 in the last budget I was involved in a couple years ago.

It's kind of funny. My next door neighbor, an investor where the house is empty most of the time due to it being a vacation rental, has opted out of the program. So the spray truck comes up the street, stops the sprayer in front of her house, drives 50 feet and then restarts the sprayer in front of my house.