Mosquitoes have buzzed off for now, says Calgary bug expert

A University of Calgary'sbug expertsaysthe city's springmosquito population hasnot been ableto breed like bunnies.

"There's a lot fewer out there," saidJohnSwann, manager of theinvertebrate collections at the university.

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Hesays arelatively dry winter andspringmeans there is less standing water for the insects tolay their eggs.

But that doesn't mean we're inthe clear.

"The summer ones that come out are typically in semi-permanent and permanent water bodies. So if we get lots of rain, we're still going to have issues with the summer species," said Swann.

And those are the species ofmosquitoes thatentomologists have to keep their eye on.

"The ones I'm moreconcerned about,terms of West Nile virus, are the ones that come out in July and August," said Swann.

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He adds that the bloodsuckers are an important part of the ecosystem, providing a "good meal" for larger bugs and birds.