Brace yourselves, Calgary. The mosquitoes are coming

Mosquito season is upon us in Calgary.

But, at least for now, the summer's biggest buzz event is largely kept to the bay — and we have the weather to thank.

“I think we should start seeing them in the next couple of days,” City of Calgary Integrated Pest Management Technician Alex Coker told The Weather Network on Tuesday.

“We expect moderate to low adults in terms of numbers.”

Coker says early larval monitoring shows low mosquito numbers, a trend he says could be influenced by ongoing drought conditions.

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Mosquitoes lay their eggs on or near water because moisture is needed to initiate the biological processes that lead to hatching and larval growth.

And most Calgary mosquitoes are what Coker calls “flood” species. That is, they preferred to lay their eggs in permanent water sources formed by heavy rains and runoff rather than permanent reservoirs.

With the drought leaving large parts of the Calgary area less than saturated, not only is it difficult to find suitable habitats, but thirsty eggs on the ground may not be able to get the water they need.

Calgary mosquitoes prefer to lay their eggs in standing water sources from heavy rains and runoff rather than standing water bodies, said Alex Coker, Integrated Pest Management Technician for the City of Calgary. (The Weather Network)

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But if the weather is right, things can change in a hurry.

“Some of their eggs can lay dormant in the soil for five or more years,” Coker said.

“Even if we have five really dry years and one really wet year, all those eggs can hatch. So it depends on our rainfall.”

A significant rain event can cause incubation to break, and some mosquito species can mature within a week.

So, keep an eye on Calgary's forecast to see when the population will peak.

Remember, if they do, it's not bad news.

Insects are an important food source for other animals and also act as pollinators.