I don’t know about you, but it seems there aren’t as many insects buzzing around Cuyahoga Falls this year.
To begin to test that uneducated guess, Cuyahoga Falls Patch issued a message on its Facebook page asking readers to weigh in with their observations.
Some folks said they haven’t seen nearly as many carpenter ants, others complained about seeing a few more earwigs than usual while others remarked that bug populations were comparable to years past.
The Summit County Health Department didn’t have many answers, so the next step was to talk to an insect expert.
Ohio State University Professor Dan Herms, an entomologist with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, said the recent dip in rainfall could have reduced insect populations this year, but it’s hard to tell.
Some thrive during stretches of drought since diseases among insects have a harder time spreading with less water, he said.
However, less rainfall could negatively affect insects, like mosquitoes, that lay eggs in pools of water in order to multiply.
“Reality is, there’s a lot of complex, interacting factors that affect insect populations,” said Herms.
To help answer the question, Patch wants to hear from you. Are there as many insects buzzing around Cuyahoga Falls this year? Also, feel free to provide any tips on how you rid your house of unwanted insects. Offer your comments below and let's get to the bottom of this!
