Entomologists say the lack of rain means less foliage in some places and fewer spots for some insects to hatch their offspring.
"There'll probably be a population crash for a lot of different kinds of insects this year," says Steve Heydon with the Bohart Museum of Entomology at UC Davis.
He says one of those insects is a vibrant orange and black butterfly with a colorful name: "The Painted Ladies will get up here expecting to find thistle plants to lay eggs on and there just won't be any plants there."
On the other hand, it seems like we're seeing a population boom for other insects.
"Mosquitoes are definitely active now and we are seeing more of them out due to the higher than normal temperatures," says Luz Maria Rodriguez with the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District.
Other typically dormant pests that are buzzing around right now include adult house flies and stink bugs.
Rodriguez says, even with a drought, mosquito populations could thrive in some spots. For example, in the puddles of stagnant water in dried up creeks.
January 28, 2022Last year, California saw everything from intense drought to torrential rain. Researchers and water agencies say that the future of the state’s drought depends on adapting to these shifts.
November 11, 2021As the drought dries up California’s wetlands, traveling birds such as ducks, geese and eagles are struggling to survive and breed. “This drought is bad. The odds are against us,” a state expert said.
June 23, 2021Drought resilience depends on location but also extraordinary engineering — determining which California places are running out of water this year and which remain in good shape.
June 17, 2021About 4,300 users were issued notices to halt diversions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
June 5, 2021Experts say the current drought is hotter and drier than previous ones, meaning water is evaporating faster.
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