Mosquitoes have arrived two weeks early in Moncton because of a mild spring and the opening of the Petitcodiac causeway gates. (Dave Chidley/Canadian Press)

The mild spring and the opening of the Petitcodiac causeway have contributed to an early start to mosquito season in the Moncton area.

Louis Lapierre, a professor emeritus in biology at the University of Moncton and general director of the Greater Moncton Pest Control Commission, said people likely started to notice the swarms of mosquitoes two weeks early this year.

Lapierre said the warmer weather this spring is to blame for the pesky pests. But he said the opening of the Petitcodiac causeway gates in April hasn't helped.

"In certain areas when the drying of the lake will have some ponding and some areas where mosquito habitat develops," Lapierre said.

The pest control commission has been in the southeastern New Brunswick city for four decades.

A count of the mosquitoes in Moncton last June showed 55 million of the pests in the area, which Lapierre said was 10 times the normal amount.

Lapierre said Moncton's mosquito population is second to only Winnipeg in Canada.

The Moncton pest commission also tracks the so-called nuisance level to determine how to deal with the mosquito population.

"The nuisance for humans, and the nuisance level we accept as tolerance — and you might say that's a hell of a tolerance level — is six bites per minute," Lapierre said.

Black flies also arrive early

For people such as Allan Beaumont the mild spring has meant an early arrival of many of his plants and flowers. But he said being outside gardening has also exposed him to the early arrival of the bugs.

"Oh yes, [the] black flies and mosquitoes have started already. They usually don't start until mid May and they're here already," he said.

And Lapierre said an early start to bug season does not translate to an early end either.

"No it doesn't work that way," he said.

"That just means they get a longer season to play around with your blood."