Experts say it's all downhill from here on out for Minnesota's mosquito population

You may have noticed while out and about, or even up at the lake, you're not swatting at your arms and legs as much as some recent years.

A recent report from the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District shows that the state's mosquito populations have likely hit their annual peak, with long-term forecasts predicting a steady decline due to ongoing dry conditions.

In response to some recent rainfall, control teams have deployed helicopters to apply treatments across all seven metro counties, according to public affairs manager Alex Carlson.

"The dry granules that are intended to land in the areas of standing water, and the granules are safe for people and pets and anything like that, they're very specific to mosquito larvae," Carlson explains.

He adds that while mosquitoes that thrive in areas with cattails are also currently hatching, local mosquito traps are catching about 40% of their usual number for this time of year.

This round of treatments is in response to some active mosquito larvae found after Saturday's rainfall, and new West Nile Virus detections in four metro counties.

Carlson says that despite this, total mosquito numbers have already peaked well below the 10-year average.

"Nothing people need to take major concern about, it's just be aware, especially a year like this year where we're not seeing a lot of overall numbers of mosquitoes," says Carlson. "We're probably at the peak right now even though it's really low compared to previous year's peaks, and it's just going to be down from here."

Dry conditions in May and June have been the main factor keeping mosquito numbers at bay so far this summer.