Alberta's Watchable Wildlife Mosquitoes are one of the most widespread and abundant groups of insects in the world, and are responsible for some of man's worst diseases.
Any quiet water is a potential place for mosquitoes to lay eggs.
A single cup of water may provide enough room for more than 1,000 larvae to grow from eggs to adults. The eggs of most species can survive dry periods and other harsh conditions. Each female may lay about 50 eggs, either singly or joined in rafts on the surface of still water. Some species have only one life cycle per year, while others may have several. Eggs may not hatch until suitable conditions are present which sometimes may take a year or more to occur.