Dill speaks with BDN about mosquito, tick season predictions
Griffin Dill, an integrated pest management specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, was interviewed by Bangor Daily News for the article, “Pest experts predict bad tick, mosquito season for Northeast.” The article states pests may be especially abundant this spring in the Northeast, according to the Bug Barometer, a bi-annual report produced by the National Pest Management Association. “I think it’s an interesting general idea of what could happen,” Dill said. “On a local level, even as far as a state level, I don’t know how much weight [the Bug Barometer] really holds. There are so many different aspects that go into whether we are going to have a lot of ticks and mosquitoes.” Dill also spoke about the increase in tick-borne diseases in the state, as well as ongoing tick research. “We learn new things literally on a yearly basis and find new pathogens ticks can transmit and carry on a yearly basis, as well,” he said. “There’s a lot we do know, and a lot we don’t know.” WGME (Channel 13 in Portland) also carried the BDN report.