INDEX - INFORMATION AVAILABLE

Alternative Names (Synonyms)

Alternative scientific names for species

• Stegomyia aegypti (B502)

Common names for species / adults

Names for other life stages

• Larval stages may be referred to as instars.
• Pupae may be called Tumblers.

General Appearance and Characteristics

• Generally, in favourable conditions, the time required for development of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) varies from about 7 to 16 days.  (B24)
• The overall life cycle for this species can be completed in 10 days under optimum conditions, but can take as long as three weeks. (D70)
• Small, dark mosquito, easily recognised by the lyre-shaped silver-white lines on the thorax and the white bands on the tarsal segments. (D70)

Similar Species

Associated Diseases
(Information on this species has been added specifically to support the "Managing West Nile Virus Infection in the USA" WILDPro Module.
Information on other diseases for which this species is a vector will be fully researched and added in due course.)

• Chikungunya virus, Dengue Fever (1,2,3,4,5,6), Yellow Fever, Zika virus - (B502)
• West Nile virus (J11.52.w1, J84.5.w2, J91.48.w1, J91.34.w1, J95.69.w1, J124.141.w1, B241.49.w49)
• Urban yellow fever, Dengue. (D70)

References

Species Author

Species Editor

References

• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
• American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA)
• Association of American Pesticide Control (AAPCO)
• EXTOXNET
• National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN)
• New Jersey Mosquito Homepage
• RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment® 
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
• USGS Water Resources Division

• Guidelines for Arbovirus Surveillance Programs in the United States

• Epidemic/Epizootic West Nile Virus in the United States: Revised Guidelines for Surveillance, Prevention, and Control

• Hazard Assessment of the Organophosphates

• New York State West Nile Virus Response Plan - Guidance Document

TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis)

Parent Group

• Mosquitoes - Culicidae (Culicine)

Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques

• Mosquitoes - Culicidae (Culicine)

Population Management / Control

Notes

Management Techniques

• Aerial Application of Mosquito Adulticides for West Nile Virus Control (Techniques)
• Ground level Application of Mosquito Adulticides for West Nile Virus Control (Techniques)
• Reduction of Local Mosquito Larval Habitats for West Nile Virus Control (Techniques)

Egg

• Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) eggs are usually elongate and / or ovoid. (B46)
• Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) eggs are white when first deposited becoming dark within an hour or two. (B46, D70)

Shape

• Culicine eggs do not have floats. (B46)

Size

• --

• --

• Culicine eggs are usually smooth. (B46)

Larva

• Head:
  • is well-developed and distinct in Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family).  (B24, B46)
  • compound eyes, antennae, and several hairs present in Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family).  (B24, D70)
  • antennae of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) are located to either side of the head, towards the front. (D70)
  • eyes of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) behind the antennae, near the hind margin of the head. (D70)
  • mouth-parts of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) are at the underside of the head, near the front. (D70)
  • mouth-parts are masticatory in Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) species and are surrounded by prominent mouthbrushes that wash organic particles into the mouth; they also have grinding and grasping structures.  (B24, B46, D70)
• Thorax:
  • unsegmented with feathered hairs for Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family).  (B24)
  • the thorax of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) has several groups of hairs useful for identification of species. (D70)
  • the thorax of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) is broader than the head or abdomen and somewhat flattened. (D70)
• Abdomen:
  • is long and cylindrical in Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) and consists of 10 segments. (D70)
  • segmented and hairy in  Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family).  (B24)
  • the fused eighth and ninth abdominal segments for Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) contain the stigmata through which breathing occurs and from which trachae pass through the whole body.  (B24)
  • the tenth segment for Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) is out of line with the other segments and has tracheal gills (consisting of two or four membranous appendages, also known as anal gills). (B24, D70)
  • the tenth segment for Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) is out of line with the other segments and has tracheal gills (consisting of two or four membranous appendages, also known as anal gills) and feathered hairs.  (B24, D70)

Shape

• --

Size

• --

• --

• The larvae of this species, Aedes albopictus - Asian tiger mosquito (Invertebrate Species Summary) and Aedes triseriatus - Eastern treehole mosquito (Invertebrate Species Summary) are all found in water-holding containers, but can be differentiated in the shape of their comb scales and other characters. (D70)
• Culicine larvae:
  • do not have float (palmate) hairs on abdominal segments. (D70)
  • the respiratory openings (stigmata) are at the tip of a siphon (air tube) which arises from the dorsal aspect of the eight and ninth abdominal segments and surrounds the stigmata. (B24, D70)
  • in Aedes (Genus) larvae, the breathing tube is relatively short and stout. (B503)
  • tracheal gills are well-developed in forms that feed at the bottom of the water, such as Aedes (Genus). (B24)
  • in Aedes (Genus) larvae, sclerotization of the anal segment is usually incomplete around the segment. (B503)

Pupa

• Overall, Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) pupa have a rounded "body": this consists of a distinct cephalothorax (head and thorax combined), with an elongate abdomen. (B24, B46)
• Abdomen:
  • in  Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) the abdomen consists of eight freely movable segments. (D70)
  • flattened dorso-ventrally, tapering and flexed underneath the "body" in Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) pupae.  (B24)
  • has a delicate cuticle (tegument) in  Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family), through which the wings, legs and general structure of the adult are visible.  (B24, B46, B504)
  • a pair of paddle-like, oval extensions are attached terminally to the abdomen of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) pupae.  (B24, D70)
• Cephalothorax:
  • head and thorax of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) are greatly  enlarged and enclosed in a sheath. (D70)
  • a pair of tubes (respiratory trumpets) are found on the dorsal aspect of the thorax in most Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family); the pupa uses these to breath at the surface of the water.  (B503, B24, B46, D70)

Shape

• --

Size

• --

• --

• --

Adult

• General:
  • Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) are small, fragile, slender-bodied flies with long legs. (B46, D70)
  • Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) length - varies from 2.0mm to (10.0 - 15.0mm). (B46, D70)
  • Head, abdomen and thorax as well-defined. (D70)
  • To differentiate males and females: compare antennae and palps (see head structures). (B503)

• Head:
  • small and almost spherical in Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family).  (B24, D70)
  • pair of prominent, large-compound eyes in Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family). (B46, D70)
  • joined to the thorax by a narrow membranous connection in Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family). (D70)
  • Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) have a pair of long, filamentous, segmented antennae; conspicuous and plumose (feathery - B73) in the males and pilose (hairy - B73) in females.  (B24)
  • the antennae of  Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family)  found in North America consist of 15 segments, only 14 of which are ordinarily visible. Each of the last 13 segments has a whorl of hairs which are short and sparse in the females, but long and bushy in the males. (D70)
  • the palpi of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) have five segments and originate at the lower front margin of the head near the proboscis. (D70)
  • the proboscis of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) consists of a labium (long, "u"-shaped, fleshy, sheath-like structure) enclosing a group of six stylets and is adapted for piercing and sucking.  (B24, B504, D70)
  • the proboscis is long and slender, and projects downwards and forwards from the lower front margin of the head in  Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family).  (B24, B504, D70)
  • in Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) the labium encloses paired maxillae, mandibles, an epipharynx and a hypopharynx. (B46
  • in Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) the hypopharynx carries a salivary duct, through which an anticoagulant is delivered into the hosts tissues. (B46)
  • the roof of the proboscis in Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) is formed by the labrum. (B46)
• Thorax:
  • Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) have three pairs of long legs and two wings attached to the thorax.  (B24, B46, D70)
  • overall the thorax is wedge-shaped in  Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) - broad end is dorsal.  (B24)
  • the upper surface of the thorax (scutum) of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) is covered with coarse hairs or scales, which are variously coloured. (D70)
  • the sides of the thorax of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) may be covered with scale bristles and bear several groups of hair or bristles, which are useful for identification. (D70)
  • the legs of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) arise from the lower sides of the thorax. (D70)
  • each leg of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) consists of a short, conical coxa (the joint of an insect leg closest to the body B73), a small hinge-like trochanter (the short small second segment of an insect's leg between the coxa and the femur B73), a stout femur (the third segment of an insect's leg, counting from the body B73), a long slender tibia (the fourth segment of an insect's leg, counting from the body B73), and a 5-segmented tarsus (the segment of an insect's leg beyond the tibia B73). (D70)
  • the first segment of the tarsus of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) is the longest in length and is often equal to the tibia. (D70)
  • the fifth tarsal segment of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) bears a small pair of claws. (D70)
  • the legs are covered with dark or coloured scales that form patterns which are often useful in identifying species. (D70)
  • wings are long and narrow in Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) with leaf-like, elongate scales (close-set row of long, slender scales) on the veins and which project as a fringe along the posterior margins. (B24, B46, B504, D70)
  • The varying colours of the scales sometimes form definite patterns which can assist with species identification. (D70)
  • wings folded over abdomen at rest in  Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family).  (B24)
  • two small knobbed structures (halteres - rudimentary posterior wing-set) are located behind and slightly below the wings. (D70)
• Abdomen:
  • elongate and nearly cylindrical in  Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family).  (B24)
  • consists of ten segments in Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) of which only eight are readily available. (D70)
  • the ninth and tenth segments of the Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) are greatly modified for sexual functions. (D70)
  • in Hexapoda other appendages (if present) occur at apex and may consist of a pair of cerci, an ectoproct (anus), and a pair of paraprocts (pair of lobes, one on each side of the anus). (B502)
  • gonopore (external opening of the reproductive organs) on the posterior portion of abdomen of  Hexapoda. (B502)

Male characteristics (if different from above)

• In the non-parasitic male Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) the mandibles and maxillae are reduced or absent and the proboscis is incapable of piercing the skin of humans and animals. (B46, D70)
• The terminal segments of the Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) male abdomen are greatly modified for mating and are of value in identification of species. (D70)
• Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) have a pair of long, filamentous, segmented antennae; conspicuous and plumose (feathery - B73) in the males and pilose (hairy - B73) in females.  (B24)

Shape

• In Culicine Mosquitoes the resting position of abdomen is pointed towards the resting surface, i.e. the proboscis and abdomen are at an angle, giving a hump-backed appearance. (B24, B503)

Size

• Small mosquito. (D70)

Colour

• Dark mosquito, easily recognised by the lyre-shaped silver-white lines on the thorax and the white bands on the tarsal segments. (D70)
• This species resembles Aedes albopictus - Asian tiger mosquito (Invertebrate Species Summary) in having bright silvery thoracic and abdominal markings and white banded legs, but Aedes albopictus - Asian tiger mosquito (Invertebrate Species Summary) has a single longitudinal silvery stripe in the middle of the scutum instead of the silvery lyre-shaped marking on the scutum described above. (D70)

Detailed Anatomical Comments

• In Culicines - the palpi of females are very short, while those of the male are usually as long as the proboscis, not clubbed, long, densely haired, and pointed. (B24, B503, D70)

THORAX

• In Culicines mosquitoes the scutellum (posterior part of the back of the thorax of the insect) is evenly curved. (B24, B503)
• Aedes (Genus) species do not have spiracular bristles in front of the mesothoracic spiracles, but do have post-spiracular bristles (a group of bristles immediately behind the mesothoracic spiracle). (B503)

ABDOMEN

• In Culicines the abdomen is covered with scales which often form characteristic markings. (D70)
• Aedes (Genus) females usually have a pointed tip to the abdomen with the paired cerci (jointed appendage at the tip of the abdomen in insects) protruding. (B503)
• In Aedes (Genus) species, the female abdomen is tapered apically, with the eighth segment withdrawn into the seventh. (D70)

Egg production and development

• In some temperate Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) species, eggs may over-winter. (B46)

• Aedes (Genus) eggs are usually laid as single eggs, near water.  (B24)
• This species lays its eggs singly on the inside of containers or tree holes at or above the waterline, or less often on the surface. (D70)

• Hatching of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) eggs occurs after several days to weeks and is temperature-dependent. (B46)
• The eggs of this species hatch quickly when the water level rises. (D70)
• The eggs sometimes remain dormant for several weeks or months in winter. (D70)

• Some of the woodland Aedes (Genus) species have a single brood each year and so are particularly troublesome early in the season. (B503)

Larval Development / Natural Diet / Behaviour

• Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) larvae moult four times, the last at the time of pupation.  (B24, B504)
• All four larval Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) instars are aquatic. (B46)
• The four larval Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) instars collectively require a minimum of 4 days to complete their development. (D70)
• Maturation of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) larvae usually occurs within two weeks, but can extend from one week to several months. (B46, B504)
• Several species of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) larvae overwinter in temperate areas. (B46)
• The Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) pupa usually emerges from a T-shaped hole in the back of the last larval skin. (B504)
• The larvae of this species can complete their development in 6 to 10 days under favourable conditions (in cool weather development takes longer). (D70)

• All Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) larvae generally strain out small aquatic organisms, algae and particles of plant and animal material as food. (D70)

• Cold weather may prolong the larval period  of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) species to several months.  (B24)
• The time required for development of the four larval Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) instars is determined by water temperature. (D70)
• Larval Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) are affected by temperature. (D70)

Food supplies:

• The time required for development of the four larval Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) instars is determined by food supply. (D70)

Respiration:

• All Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) larvae require air. (D70)
• The anal (tracheal) gills act in Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) to regulate osmotic  pressure rather than contribute to respiration. (D70)
• Most Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) larvae require air for respiration and come to the surface for air. (D70)

• Fish, insects. (D70)

• Young stages of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) can be transferred to new areas by water flowing intermittently.  (B24)
• Too much rain can wash away the larvae and decrease the number of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family), unless pools remain afterwards.  (B24)
• Generally, Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) larvae can rest just beneath the surface without effort; certain non-wetting structures suspend the larvae from the water surface film. (D70)
• Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) larvae move in two ways, by:
  • jerks of the body. (D70)
  • propulsion with the mouth brushes. (D70)
• Culicine mosquitoes generally move by using mouth brushes to "crawl" over the bottom and move slowly on the surface. (D70)
• Culicine larvae:
  • tend to hang head down with only the tip of the air tube penetrating the surface film, suspended from the water surface by the air tube. (B503, D70).
  • feed below surface of the water. (B24)
  • the air tube is closed by the chitinous valves which open when the larva goes to the surface of the water to breath. (B24)

Pupal Development

• All Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) pupae are aquatic and  motile, using paddle-like, oval extensions attached terminally to the abdomen to move up and down in the water.  (B46, D70).
• The pupal stage for Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) is usually short: a few hours may be sufficient for certain dry climate species, but more normally ranges from two days in the tropics but can be more than several weeks in temperate regions. (B46, B504, D70)
• No Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) pupa is known to overwinter as a pupa. (D70)
• The Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) pupa release the adult through a hole / split in back (dorsum) of the pupal cuticle (tegument) as the pupal case floats on the surface of the water. The wings are fully expanded and hardened after about 24 hours and the mosquito is then soon able to fly. (B46, B504, D70)
• The time for pupal development of this species is about 2 days. (D70)

• Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) pupae do not feed.  (D70)

• Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) pupae breathe at the surface through a small pair of trumpet-like structures on the thorax. (B503, D70)

• Probably - fish, insects. (D70)

• All Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) pupae are motile, using paddle-like, oval extensions attached terminally to the abdomen to move up and down in the water.  (B46, D70).
• Most Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) pupae tend to be lighter than water due to an air space between the wing cases on the underside of the cephalothorax. (D70)
• Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) pupae can move about with considerable speed by vigorous movement of the abdomen, tending to rise directly to the surface when movement stops although they tend to be not quite as active as the larvae. (B24, D70)

Adult Reproduction / Physiology / Natural Diet / Behaviour

• This mosquitoes breeds throughout the year in the tropics, where generations succeed each other rapidly. (D70)
• In the southern United States, the reproduction rate is slower during the winter.  (D70)

• Female adult Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) species of veterinary and medical importance normally feed on blood and many species require a blood feed in order to lay eggs (other species of mosquitoes feed only on plants and these are usually of little interest as disease vectors or pests. B504); the protein is necessary for the maturation of ovaries. This cycle requires two or more days for the female to digest the blood, lay a batch of eggs, then seek another blood meal; the cycle can be repeated many times in a female's life. (B24, B504, D70)
• When Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) females feed, a tube is formed by the proboscis and the stylets penetrate the skin of the animal and form a small duct through which saliva is injected into the wound; they also act as a canal through which liquid food is ingested. (B46, D70)
• Adult Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) can be fed on fruit juices and sugar water, and males normally feed on a similar diet in the wild.  (B24)
• Adult male Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) (and occasionally the females) feed on nectar and other plant juices.  (B24, B503)
• Female adult Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) can bite through clothing. (B46)
• The adult females of this species apparently prefer the blood of man to that of other species. (D70)

• Flagellum of spermatozoa of  Hexapoda has microtubule arrangement of 9 + 9 + 2. (B502)
• The male Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) usually emerge first. (D70)
• Only one mating by the females Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) is generally required to fertilise her lifetime egg production. (D70)
• The life-span of adult Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) is not well known; some species apparently live one or two months during summer, whereas adults that hibernate can live for six months or more. (D70)
• Approximately equal number of male and female Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) are produced. (D70)
• Although the life span of adult Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) is usually short, females that are too late to lay due to environmental conditions, may either hibernate or aestivate until the following season.  (B24)
• The adults of this species are very susceptible to cold and usually do not survive the winter in the northern United States. (D70)
• The adults of this species live for four or more months in the laboratory. (D70)

• The feeding behaviour of the female adult Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) may cause great nuisance to their host species and bites can be painful and may become secondarily infected. (B24, B46, V.w6)
• This species bites principally during the morning and late afternoon. (D70)
• This species attacks quietly and prefers to bite about the ankles, under coat sleeves, or at the back of the neck. (D70)
• Female adult Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) tend to hide in dark corners (hollow trees, culverts etc.) during the day and may use these as hibernacula.  (B24, B46, B503)
• Female Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) tend to live longer and travel greater distances than the male. (D70)
• Female adult Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) seem to be attracted by skin warmth.  (B24)
• Female adult Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) are usually active at night (nocturnal feeders), in twilight hours or in dense shade, although some species may feed entirely during the day.  (B24, B46, B503, D70)
• Adult Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) may fly fair distances, varying between different species, and may be carried by the wind, or travel in a number of stages. They can also travel in vehicles.  (B24)
• Aedes aegypti (probably the most domesticated mosquito) seldom travel more than a few hundred metres from the place of emergence. "Their usual flight range is 100 feet to 100 yards, but longer distances have been reported (D70)." (B503, D70)

• The antennae of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) are believed to be used for hearing and smelling. (D70)
• Two small knobbed structures (halteres) vibrate rapidly whilst the mosquito is in flight and serve as organs of equilibrium. (D70)

General Habitat type (Biogeograpical / Climate Type)

• This species is semi-domesticated. (D70)
• Larval habitats are almost exclusively in artificial containers in and around human habitations. (D70)
• Typical artificial containers are flower vases, tin cans, jars, discarded automobile tires, unused water closets, cisterns, rain barrels, sagging roof gutters and tree holes. (D70)
• This species enters houses readily, even those that are well screened. (D70)

• "Artificial Container and Tree-Hole" (North American Mosquito Habitats)

Microhabitat (Egg, Larvae, Pupae, Adult)

• Eggs of some species of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) can resist cold conditions for a considerable time.  (B24)

Humidity

• Eggs of some species of Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) can resist dry conditions for a considerable time.  (B24)
• The eggs of this species can withstand drying for several months. (D70)
• Eggs of  Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) require water for development. (D70)
• Eggs of  Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) are usually laid on water or on floating vegetable matter after a blood meal (B24, B46); or in dry places that tend to flood seasonally. (B504)
• Development of the egg, larvae and pupae of all Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) species require water. (D70)

• All Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) larvae live in water. (D70)
• Development of the egg, larvae and pupae of all Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) species require water. (D70)
• Vegetation is important for the development of larval Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family). (D70)
• Habitats of larval Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) vary greatly between species and may include small temporary collections of water (puddles etc.) to marshes. The larvae are rarely found in fast-flowing streams or rivers, or large uninterrupted waterbodies such as lakes. (B46)
• Aedes (Genus) species breed mainly in woodland pools and salt marshes. (B503)
• Aedes aegypti breeds primarily in and around human habitations. (D70)
• All Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) larvae live in water, permanent ponds and marshes, temporary flood waters or woodland pools, water contained in tree holes, leaves of plants, or artificial containers. (D70)
• Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) larvae are not usually found in  flowing streams and the open waters of large streams, lakes and seas. (D70)

Temperature:

• The development of the larvae of this species takes longer in cooler weather. (D70)

Light:

• Larval Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) are affected by light. (D70)

• Development of the egg, larvae and pupae of all Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) species require water. (D70)

• Hibernation / aestivation sites of  Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) females  are usually relatively dark conditions with an even temperature, such as cellars, barns and lofts under thatched roofs.  (B24)

Light:

• Female adult Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) are active at night and tend to hide in dark corners during the day and also during aestivation / hibernation.  (B24)

Geographical Distribution, Migration etc.

• This species was originally a tropical species, thought to have been introduced into the Western World from Africa. (D70)
• Current distribution in the United States includes the south-eastern and southern states extending northward to North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas. (D70)
• Formerly an abundant species in most southern cities and extended northward along the Atlantic Coast, probably into New England and in the Mississippi basin only as far as Illinois. (D70)

Intra-specific variation (subspeciation)

Conservation / Pest / Legal Status

• The feeding behaviour of the female adult Culicidae - Mosquitoes (Family) may cause great nuisance to their host species and bites can be painful and may become secondarily infected. (B24, B46, V.w6)
• This species is a pest of some significance when it occurs in large numbers. (D70)