The city of Calgary has brought in helicopters to fight an outbreak of mosquitoes.

Officials normally monitor the mosquito population with traps . This season, the traps suggest that the number of mosquitoes is up almost ten times from the normal average for this time of year.

An official with the City Spray Program says the increase is due to the cold, wet weather Calgary had in July.

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in a variety of water sources. These eggs hatch into larvae that live in water and come up to the surface to breathe. Larvae develop into pupae (similar to a cocoon) in about 7-10 days. Pupae live and develop in the water from one day to a few weeks. Then their skin breaks and the adult mosquito emerges.

According to the City Spray Program, the weird summer weather has created more pools for the mosquitoes to breed. The cool weather didn't allow the young mosquitoes to fully develop into adults.

Now that the weather has become much warmer, the mosquitoes are beginning to develop all at once.

To try and stop their development, the city has sent out helicopters to spray the ponds outside Calgary with an organic pesticide. The pesticide fills the ponds , keeping the mosquitoes from hatching, and the young mosquitoes from maturing.

The spray doesn't affect the mosquitoes that are already at the adult or biting stage.

The spray is being used to control the next group of new mosquitoes that are coming up through the water right now.

Most people can't fight mosquitoes with helicopters and pesticides. Experts suggest long-sleeved clothing, a hat, and a ready swatting-arm as the best defense for people to fight off mosquitoes.

1. Whom do officials normally monitor?