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| Aedes aegypti; image from ucrtoday.ucr.edu; photo credit:USDA |
Did you know that "mosquito" is Spanish for "little fly"?
There have been over 3,500 species of mosquitoes found throughout the world, and mosquitoes transmit some of the most harmful human and livestock diseases.
There have been over 3,500 species of mosquitoes found throughout the world, and mosquitoes transmit some of the most harmful human and livestock diseases.
The families of mosquitoes that we mostly deal with are the Aedes and Culex.
The Aedes family of mosquitoes were originally found in tropical and subtropical areas, but they are now found on all continents except Antarctica. Aedes mosquitoes typically have black and white stripe markings on their body and legs. The name "aedes" comes from the Ancient Greek word meaning "unpleasant." These mosquitoes are transmitters of dengue fever and yellow fever.
Not all mosquitoes transmit disease. Also, not all species are bloodsuckers. Even in bloodsucking species, only the females suck blood. They need the blood as a source of protein for egg development. Adult females lay eggs in standing water, near the water's edge, or attach their eggs to aquatic plants. Eggs grow into larvae (often called "wigglers" or "wrigglers), larvae grow to pupae (called "tumblers"), and pupae grow into adults. Adult mosquitoes usually mate within a few days after emerging from the pupal stage. In most species, the males form large swarms, and the females fly into the swarms to mate.
The Aedes family of mosquitoes were originally found in tropical and subtropical areas, but they are now found on all continents except Antarctica. Aedes mosquitoes typically have black and white stripe markings on their body and legs. The name "aedes" comes from the Ancient Greek word meaning "unpleasant." These mosquitoes are transmitters of dengue fever and yellow fever.
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| Aedes albopictus (or Asian Tiger Mosquito); wikipedia.org; photo credit: James Gathany/CDC |
The culex family of mosquitoes are transmitters of West Nile Virus, malaria, and encephalitis. They are brown in color and are found throughout the tropics and lower latitudes of temperate regions, such as the Southern US.
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| Culex mosquito; image from extension.entm.perdue.edu |
Not all mosquitoes transmit disease. Also, not all species are bloodsuckers. Even in bloodsucking species, only the females suck blood. They need the blood as a source of protein for egg development. Adult females lay eggs in standing water, near the water's edge, or attach their eggs to aquatic plants. Eggs grow into larvae (often called "wigglers" or "wrigglers), larvae grow to pupae (called "tumblers"), and pupae grow into adults. Adult mosquitoes usually mate within a few days after emerging from the pupal stage. In most species, the males form large swarms, and the females fly into the swarms to mate.
Do you ever wonder why some people seem to get bit by mosquitoes a lot, and some hardly ever get bit? Mosquitoes can sense carbon dioxide, lactic acid, and heat. They are also attracted to certain chemicals in sweat. Last weekend, we were outside for a few minutes and one of my boys got eaten up with bites, while the others were hardly touched. If you find yourself with a mosquito bite, wash the area with mild soap and water. Then avoid scratching!
To reduce the number of mosquitoes around, get rid of any stagnant water that could be a breeding ground. Some good deterrents are mosquito nets, window screens, and repellent containing DEET. Citronella oil has also been effective in high concentrations.
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