It’s going to be a muggy and buggy summer. Here’s why

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — It’s going to be a pretty pesky summer. Heat and bugs are two mainstays of the season, but when it comes to the latter, experts predict more pests this year across our region.

Nelson March, owner of the pest control company Mosquito Joe in West Chester, said a mild winter allowed ticks to start breeding earlier.

“We’re seeing more resilience in the tick population,” he said. “The milder winters are making it easier for them to start reproducing earlier in the season.”

Pennsylvania has the second-highest rate of Lyme disease in the country, he noted. A tick bite can often look like a spot of dirt with a little bit of redness. March said it’s important to check yourself every time you’re outside.

“The adult ticks are best treated by having your yard treated,” he said.

The buggier forecast also stands true for mosquitoes. “The amount of moisture we had has actually been much better than last year,” March explained. “That leads to more mosquito populations.”

Get rid of standing water on your property, he advised. That’s a surefire and easy way to reduce the mosquito population near you. Even a small water bottle cap could hold 30 eggs.

“The mosquito lays one to 200 eggs every breeding cycle, which is three weeks. The most important thing is to get rid of the breeding site — the standing water. That’s the cheapest, most effective way.”

Meanwhile, cicadas are expected to have a heavy presence in the U.S. South and Midwest, but not in our section of the Northeast.

“In our area, we’re expecting a fairly normal reoccurrence of the broods,” March assured. “It would be similar to last summer.”