The mosquitoes are back with a vengeance in Fort 91原创, though locals are hoping it鈥檚 a temporary issue.

鈥淭hey seem a little better today,鈥� said Eric Woodward, president of the Fort 91原创 Business Improvement Association.

About a week earlier, the mosquitoes started biting in and around the Fort.

Because Fort 91原创 lies on the Fraser River floodplain, surrounded by flat fields, it can be ideal mosquito breeding territory.

Woodward said it hasn鈥檛 been this bad in the past five years.

That鈥檚 confirmed by Michael Jackson, president of Culex Environmental, the company that does mosquito control work for 91原创 Township and Metro Vancouver Parks.

There are two major varieties of mosquito that live in the Fraser Valley, said Jackson, the common Aedes vexans, and the less-common Aedes sticticus.

The sticticus is having a bit of a population explosion this year, according to Culex monitoring efforts.

鈥淭hat is a much more aggressive species,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his year the numbers are much higher than in previous years for that species.鈥�

It鈥檚 also just a bad year for mosquitoes thanks to the weather patterns. The high river and heavy rains of mid-June left a lot of standing water, which warmed up abruptly last week. That let mosquito larvae mature and take flight from their ponds.

However, things are expected to get better.

鈥淭hey are spraying today,鈥� Woodward said Thursday.

Metro Vancouver Parks and 91原创 Township conducted their third round of aerial control efforts June 29, hitting alocal areas with larvicide treatments. The treatment isn鈥檛 a spray, said Jackson, but a granular formation that鈥檚 scattered into standing water. It releases a targeted bacteria that infects and kills mosquito larvae.

Between the change in weather and the control efforts, the number of mosquitoes is expected to decline.

鈥淭he worst is definitely over,鈥� said Jackson.

The larvicide is an environmentally friendly substance that is not harmful to humans.

The Township is also reminding residents to practice the four Ds.

鈥� Drain your property of standing water (in which mosquitoes lay their eggs)

鈥� Dusk/Dawn are the times of day when you need to take extra care

鈥� Dress appropriately, with light coloured and loose fitting clothing with long sleeves

鈥� Defend yourself by using repellents wisely 鈥� read the labels first

Questions can be directed to Culex Environmental, the Township鈥檚 regional mosquito control contractor, at 604-872-1912.