Dry conditions affect insect population - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

Dry conditions affect insect population

Posted:
By Brittany Schmidt - email

MADISON (WKOW) – Dry conditions in southern Wisconsin has had an impact on the insect population.

Dry weather has reduced the number of mosquitoes, but other bugs have become more prevalent.

University of Wisconsin-Madison entomologist Phil Pellitteri said the boxelder population is likely to explode in the coming months.  Pellitteri said the boxelder bug does really well when it's dry.  He added that the boxelder bugs may be a nuisance, but they are generally harmless to humans and plants.

Pellitteri told Wisconsin Public Radio News that he also expects to see a lot of yellow jackets late this summer.  Pellitteri said the ground-nesting yellow jackets that tend to go after our food, like it hot and dry.

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