Exam Review
Mosquitoes
Announcements
Speakers Today: Marty Whitehouse, Laura Strasinger
Speakers Next Thursday: Sarah Stephan, Chris
Gibson
Read Chap 14, Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes
• Mosquitoes are flies (Diptera, they have 2
wings)
• Family Culicidae
• Larval and pupal stages are always
aquatic
• Wings are covered in scales
• Mouthparts of females are adapted for
piercing and sucking blood
The Business End
Palps & antennae are
used to find hosts
Compound Eye
•
• Once the mosquito
lands, the outer sheath
slides back, exposing the
mandilbes & maxillae
• These form the stylets
which stab the skin.
Sensory Setae
Human
Hair
Palp
Mandibles
& Maxillae
Blood
Capillary
• Sensors on the tip of the
stylets confirm capillary
location
Sensors
Lower
“Lip”
(labium)
There are many species of
mosquitoes
•
•
•
•
About 2,500 species world-wide
About 150 in North America
50 – 60 in Kentucky
Each species has its own biology, behavior,
ecology, etc.
• Implications:
– No single control can be expected to work for all
mosquitoes
– Need to understand which species that you’re facing
Five Principal Genera in
Kentucky
•
•
•
•
•
Aedes – Most anthropophillic
Anopheles – Malaria mosquitoes
Culex – Orniphilic, disease threats
Ochlerotatus – Important invaders
Psorophora – Large, painful biters
• The dominant species you face depends
on where you are.
Northern Kentucky, 2004
144
Boone
Campbell
49
140
10
No. mosquitoes
60
40
5
20
Fleming
24
Grant
45
30
8
Cx. Pipiens/restuans
Culex spp.
Aedes spp.
Ochlerotatus spp.
Anopheles spp.
Psorophora spp.
15
4
7.5
0
0
24
25
26
27
24
Week
25
26
27
Western Kentucky, 2004
No. mosquitoes
180
Daviess
Fulton
663
130
150
80
20
75
10
25.00
Union
0
24
25
26
Cx. Pipiens/restuans
Culex spp.
Aedes spp.
Ochlerotatus spp.
Anopheles spp.
Psorophora spp.
12.50
0.00
24
25
26
27
Week
27
No. mosquitoes
Urban Kentucky, 2004
900
850
800
Fayette
Cx. Pipiens/restuans
Aedes spp.
Ochlerotatus spp.
990
75
50
Jefferson
50
40
30
25
20
10
0
24
25
26
27
0
23
Week
24
25
26
Aedes vs. Culex Biology
Aedes/Ochlerotatus
Culex
Primary nuisance, very
numerous
Primary virus vectors
Attacks mammals
Daytime – early evening
Lays eggs singly adjacent to
water
Attacks birds, few human bites
Late night – early morning
Lays eggs in rafts on water
surface
Overwinters as eggs
Daytime resting sites < 10 ft
(bushes)
Overwinters as adults
Daytime resting sites > 10 ft
(trees)
Anopheles and Psorophora cross these categories
Top 10 Mosquitoes in Kentucky
5 Major Genera
Aedes
Anopheles
Culex
Ochlerotatus
Psorophora
Other Genera in KY:
Culiseta
Toxorhynchites
Uranotaenia
Coquillittidia
Orthopodomyia
Wyeomyia
#1 Aedes albopictus
• Asian tiger mosquito
• Nuisance biter, potential dengue vector
• Feeds evenings, mornings on humans
#2 Aedes vexans
• Inland flood water mosquito
• Nuisance biter, transmits dog heartworm, WEE/EEE
• Feeds at dusk
#3 Culex pipiens/restuans
• Northern house mosquito
• Most likely to transmit WNV
• Feeds at night on birds, humans
#4 Ochlerotatus japonicus
• Asian bush mosquito
• Currently invading state
• Begins biting mid-morning, lower extremities
#5 Ochlerotatus triseriatus
• Eastern treehole mosquito
• Vector of La Cross encephalitis
• Feeds at dusk on small mammals, humans to lesser extent
#6 Anopheles punctipennis
• Mottled-wing Anopheles
• Aggressive nuisance biter
• Feeds during the day/dusk in shady/forested areas
#7 Anopheles
quadrimaculatus/crucians
• Common malaria mosquito (quadrimac.)
• Vector of dog heartworm
• Feeds during day/dusk in shady/forested areas
#8 Ochlerotatus trivittatus
•
•
•
•
Three-striped mosquito
Aggressive nuisance biter, especially when hot, after rain
Particularly prevalent in flooded woodlands
Feeds during the day, dusk
#9 Psorophora ciliata/howardii
• Gallinipper
• Ouch!!
• Feeds during the day, at night
#10 Culex erraticus
• Weak flier, feeds mostly on forest animals
• May feed on humans when present
Generic Mosquito Life Cycle
• Larvae are wigglers
• Pupae are tumblers
(quite active)
• Both breath air
• Eggs are laid on the
surface of water in
rafts (Culex) or singly
(Anopheles) or near
water (Aedes)
Most breath atmospheric air via a
siphon
Mosquito Diet
• Most Larvae feed on
algae but a few are
predaceous and feed
on other mosquito
larvae
• Only females are
blood sucking
• Males and females
feed on nectar and
other plant juices
After Emergence …
• Day 1 – Rest on nearest
available moist/shady
spot. Vertical surfaces.
• Day 2 – Carbohydrate
feeding
• Day 2/3 – First blood
meal
• Next Day – First egg
clutch
• After egg clutch, more
carbohydrate & blood
meals
• Typical adult lives 7 – 10
days