Mosquito Identification Flashcards
The nectar of flowers,
Which mosquito NEEDS blood and for what purpose?
Blood is needed to produce its eggs.
What is the best way to distinguish between male vs. female mosquitos.
In terms of appearance, male vs. female mosquito antennae is the simplest way to tell the difference.
What is the distinguishing feature of the male mosquito’s antennae?
Males have feathery branchedantennae that help them sense their potential mates’ wingbeats.
Describe the female mosquito’s antennae, mouthparts.
The female mosquito’s antennae is especially plain. The mouthparts, the proboscises, are constructed in order to pierce human skin.
In terms of size, which mosquitoes are generally larger.
The female is generally larger than males.
What is unique about the female sound.
Females beat their wings up to 500 times per second. Males locate females for mating by the sound of their wings.
What is the proboscis? ENTOMOLOGY (in many insects) an elongated sucking mouthpart that is typically tubular and flexible.
The mouthparts of the female mosquito used t to pierce the skin to suck the blood out. Saliva lubricates the opening of the proboscis. It’s the combination of the saliva and the injury to the skin that creates the stinging and irritation of a mosquito bite.
How to mosquito compensate for poor vision to identify blood sources.
They rely first on carbon dioxide sense exhaled carbon dioxide (from a distance that can be more than 30 feet), then human odor, then body heat.
What is the specific olfactory receptor Ir8a.
It is 1 of many smelling receptors in mosquitos that detect lactic acid in human sweat. The mosquito can actually can taste your skin with their legs and then they look for a place to bite,” DeGennaro PUBLIC HEALTH How Mosquitoes Sniff Out Human Sweat To Find Us
ENTOMOLOGY (in many insects) an elongated sucking mouthpart that is typically tubular and flexible.
proboscis
What is the origin of proboscis?
Greek Pro- before Boskein- cause to feed Greek proboskin ‘means of obtaining food’
What are the other protruding parts around the proboscis?
palp (n.) “feeler, tactile organ,” 1836, from French palpe, German palp, from Latin palpus “feeler,” related to palpare “to touch softly, feel,” Zoology Each of a pair of elongated segmented appendages near the mouth of an arthropod, usually concerned with the senses of touch and taste.
What are the difference in proboscis?
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Describe the Thorax Characteristics Spiracles
Spiracles are respiratory openings found on the thorax and abdomen of insects. The spiracles are connected to trachea - tubes within the insect’s body. Air enters the trachea via the spiracles and the oxygen then diffuses into the insect’s body.
Describe the Thorax Characteristics Scutum
The principal dorsal area of the mesonotum.
Aedes Species
- Aedes is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except Antarctica.
- the generic name comes from the Ancient Greek ἀηδής, aēdēs, meaning “unpleasant” or “odious”
- 700 species
- Unlike most other mosquitoes, they are active and bite only during the daytime.
- The peak biting periods are early in the morning and in the evening before dusk.
Aedes Appearance
- Abdominal bands are basal (beginning of segment)
- The end of the abdomen tapers to a point
- Some species of this genus transmit serious diseases, including dengue fever, yellow fever, the Zika virus,[3] and chikungunya.
Aedes detection and monitoring
Aedes can be detected and monitored by ovitraps.
A. aegypti and A. albopictus,
The two most prominent species that transmit viruses are A. aegypti and A. albopictus, which transmit the viruses that cause dengue fever, yellow fever, West Nile fever, chikungunya, eastern equine encephalitis, and Zika virus.
Aedes Locations
Around Homes
- Aedes aegypti
- Aedes albopictus
Along the Coast - salt marsh
- Aedes taeniorhynchus
- Aedes sollicitans
Freshwater - woodlands
- Aedes atlanticus
- Aedes infirmatus
- Aedes fulvus pallens
- Aedes triseriatus
- Aedes vexans
Which 2 mosquitoes are most often found around homes?
Aedes aegypti
Aedes albopictus
What species is this?
- Scutum with lyre-shaped marking of silvery scales
- After landing you will notice the silvery-white band of scale going across the top of the body where the thorax meets the abdomen
- Before landing they will fly in a back and forth pattern within 6 to 8 inches as if to find the perfect spot
Aedes aegypti
- Scutum with lyre-shaped marking of silvery scales
- After landing you will notice the silvery-white band of scale going across the top of the body where the thorax meets the abdomen
- Before landing they will fly in a back and forth pattern within 6 to 8 inches as if to find the perfect spot
Aedes albopictus
- A small, dark mosquito with a white dorsal stripe and banded legs.
- They are strongly attracted to bite humans, but will feed on cats, dogs, squirrels, deer, and other mammals, as well as birds
- This species, like Aedes aegypti, will have a back and forth flight pattern within 6 to 8 inches from human host
Aedes taeniorhynchus
“The black salt marsh mosquito”
- Breed in salt marshes where mangrove and saltwort form predominant marsh vegetation
- They are very salt tolerant, but may breed in fresh water
- Adults will bite during the day
Aedes taeniorhynchus
“The black salt marsh mosquito”
- taeniorhynchus adults survive on a combination diet of blood and sugar, with
- females generally requiring a blood meal before laying eggs
taeniorhynchus
- It is a carrier for encephalitic viruses including Venezuelan equine encephalitis
- developing in periodic cycles, with
- high sensitivity to light and flight patterns that result in specific wingbeat frequencies that allow for both species detection and sex distinction
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taeniorhynchus
It can be identified by its last posterior tarsal joint, which is mostly black rather than banded in white.[11]
It resides in Florida and can migrate as far as 95 mi (153 km).
Males and females can be distinguished based on their antennae: males have plumose (feather-like) antennae while females antennae are sparsely haired.
taeniorhynchus
- taeniorhynchus and other species come from the white banding that covers several body parts along Ae. taeniorhynchus.
- The species, like other Aedes mosquitoes, exhibits basal banding of the abdomen, but Ae. taeniorhynchus also uniquely exhibits white-tipped palps and a central white ring on the proboscis.[13]
taeniorhynchus meaning
[G. tainia, band, + rhynchos, snout]
Aedes taeniorhynchus
- Abdominal banding is very pronounced and straight
- Adults are black and white in appearance with banded legs and a distinctive white banding on the proboscis
- This species is notoriously aggressive and tends to bite around the head/face area
- Flight range up to 50 miles
Aedes sollicitans,
the eastern saltmarsh mosquito
- Golden in appearance
- addomen banding is connected with a longitudial stripe down the middle
- fairly aggressive mosquito and is typically more prodominant in the winter months.
Aedes sollicitans,
the eastern saltmarsh mosquito
- a species of mosquito native to the eastern seaboard of the United States, Canada, and the entire Gulf coast.
- it is occasionally found inland in areas with saline pools,
Aedes atlanticus Identification
- Agressiver bitters
- No back and forth flight - straight for bite
- commonly found biting at dawn and dusk in shaded areas, but they can also be lured to feed in bright sunlight.
- oviposit in a wide variety of floodwater sites, both in open and wooded areas. Larvae are found in temporary pools in open fields and woodlands,
Aedes atlanticus Identification
- Freshwater
- Long stripe of golden scales along the length of the thorax scutum
- Head: Lateral black scale patches extend forward to eye margin.
- Brown in color
Aedes infirmatus
- Large patch of silver scales on the thorax but does not extend the full length
- scales wider and brighter silver than atlanticus
Aedes infirmatus
- Mostly a woodland mosquito
- Fierce biter, even in daytime in or near woods
- Breads in temporary woodland pools or open grassy pools
Aedes triseriatus
Treehole mosquito
- Scutum with mediam longitudinal stripe of dark brown scales and white scale laterally.
Aedes triseriatus
Treehole mosquito
- predilection towards breeding in stagnant water that is found in natural holding containers such as tree holes
- will also breed in container with organic debris
- favors hardwood habitats.[4] It has been found as far south as the Florida Keys,
