KIRKSVILLE, MO -- While this summer’s drought has had a negative impact on most, there is one good outcome that it has happened across the Heartland. One of summer’s most pesky insects is actually hard to come by, leaving many outdoor activities uninterrupted.

“The drought is having an affect on the mosquito population. Mosquitoes breed in standing water. That can be on the ground, old tires, pales, tree holes, or gutters. But with this drought there is less standing water which is leading to less breeding,” said Natural History Biologist Krista Noel.

Despite the low numbers now, they numbers can quickly rise again if we start receiving lots of rain heading into the fall. Experts also recommend emptying anything that collects standing water, changing bird bath water frequently, and trimming shrubbery around your house to cut back on the mosquito population.