Algonquin Adventures / Early Season Mosquitoes

**Posted by andy** 5/12/2025 10:41 am

Was in from May 3-10 and early in the week there were Mosquitoes out in the evenings. I don't recall seeing Mosquitoes this early in the season before, usually they're out after the Blackflies start. They were huge too, like little hummingbirds, you could see them coming from across the site.

**Posted by solos** 5/12/2025 11:40 am

I'm not an expert but there are over 60 species of mosquitos in Ontario, each with different habits and different sizes. Maybe you just encountered some where the local conditions were just right for that species and the bulk of the mosquitos won't come out until after Victoria Day long weekend. At least that is what I'm hoping since I'm going up to Algonquin in a couple of days.

**Posted by IanTendy** 5/12/2025 12:00 pm

I was out May 2-5 and saw them on the 4th. This was in the SW end of the park in the Ahmek region, not biting but definitely there. No blackflies though, which was nice.

**Posted by EGB** 5/12/2025 4:38 pm

saw them during the day upon arrival at Achray on April 27th. Weren't biting though. Looked like the Asian Tiger Mosquitos. Big. All bugs are doing well...10x as many Paper Wasps, Deer Ticks are outrageous, and Yellow Jacket queens picked up my cider and flew away with it.

**Posted by andy** 5/12/2025 7:42 pm

All good points, hopefully not a trend, death to Mosquitoes!

**Posted by MartinG** 5/12/2025 8:35 pm

Saw Mosquitos on Big Crow on the 5th. That was it for a week in the middle of the Park. Never seen a Deer Tick in the park. It's one of the plusses of APP. Where I live it's thick with them.

**Posted by EGB** 5/14/2025 3:15 pm

MartinG wrote:
Saw Mosquitos on Big Crow on the 5th. That was it for a week in the middle of the Park. Never seen a Deer Tick in the park. It's one of the plusses of APP. Where I live it's thick with them.

sorry I should clarify those latter insects are plentiful where I live. Never seen a deer tick in the park either.

**Posted by scoutergriz** 5/15/2025 7:02 am

those "giant" mosquitoes were most likely crane flies, there are several species that range in size from 1/2" to 1" in length (1.2cm to 2.5cm) and do not bite, they only feed as larvae, not adults. they also often appear just before or alongside mossies.

**Posted by EGB** 5/15/2025 3:39 pm

scoutergriz wrote:
those "giant" mosquitoes were most likely crane flies, there are several species that range in size from 1/2" to 1" in length (1.2cm to 2.5cm) and do not bite, they only feed as larvae, not adults. they also often appear just before or alongside mossies.

Not likely Cranes flies, unless they are now sporting proboscises.