Mosquito Biology

The Asian tiger mosquito is a container-inhabiting species which lays its eggs in any water-containing receptacle in urban, suburban, rural and forested areas. Its primary habitats are artificial containers such as tires, flower pots, cemetery urns/vases, buckets, tin cans, rain gutters, ornamental ponds, drums, even the finger holes of an abandoned bowling ball have been reported. Larvae can also be found in natural containers such as tree holes, bamboo pots, and leaf axils. Ae. albopictus is a very aggressive daytime biter with peaks generally occurring during the early morning and late afternoon. Its major means of dispersal is through the transport of used and waste tires. The movement of other water-holding containers could also play a role in expanding its range.

Aedes vexans can be found in many different habitats. Among these are: open rain pools, tire ruts, stormwater management facilities (this includes detention, retention and infiltration basins), dredge spoil sites, salt marsh impoundments, ditches, areas in which streams or creeks have flooded over their banks, flooded woodlands, around the edges of semi-permanent swamps and bogs that are subject to some drying down, and woodland pools or any type of temporary rain pool. Larvae do not seem to exhibit a marked preference for either sunlight or shade within these habitats. Ae. vexans is a serious nuisance pest. Females will feed in shady places during the day; however, they are very active at dusk and vigorously seek blood meals at this time.

Anopheles crucians larvae are found in margins of lakes, ponds, swamps and semipermanent and permanent pools associated with aquatic vegetation. This mosquito prefers acid water in the larval habitat. It is typically the dominant Anopheles in the southern half of the state. Females bite at night and during the day in the woods. They also enter houses.

This mosquito was the most important vector of malaria in the southeastern United States and today is a major host of the nematode that causes dog heartworm. Anopheles quadrimaculatus generally breeds in permanent-water swamps that have filtered sunlight and established surface vegetation or emergent vegetation. Larvae are surface feeders that ingest microorganisms and detritus. They associate themselves with aquatic vegetation to avoid predation. They also change color to mimic that of their breeding habitat. Females typically fly less than 1 mile for a blood meal.

This large, black-and-white mosquito is a severe pest in inland Florida. It breeds in established, permanent freshwater marshes containing emergent vegetation where there is a layer of detritus on the marsh bottom. The eggs are laid in a raft on the water surface, and the immature forms attach to the roots of the emergent plants. This aggressive mosquito is active for short periods at dusk and commonly flies three to five miles, often much farther. Females bite both humans and birds. This species is an important vector of eastern encephalitis to humans throughout the eastern United States, wherever it is associated with Culiseta melanura.

This small mosquito is common in Leon County. The larvae are found in permanent grassy ponds and swamps, often associated with duckweed, upon which the female lays her eggs. Females feed on birds and humans at dusk and during the day.

Culex nigripalpus larvae often develop in the rich organic mixture found in shallow flooded ditches. Larval development time is temperature dependent, and is most rapid in midsummer when the water temperature in the ditches may exceed 100 degrees F. Females are extremely opportunistic in their choice of a host, feeding on vertebrates ranging from tree frogs to humans. Females seek hosts and blood feed mainly during the crepuscular periods before sunrise and after sunset. Culex nigripalpus is the most important disease vector in Florida where it is the predominant vector of St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE) virus and a minor vector of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus.

Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes are common in urban and suburban communities as well as on rural premises. They readily breed in storm sewer catch basins, clean and polluted ground pools, ditches, animal waste lagoons, effluent from sewage treatment plants, and other sites that are slightly to very eutrophic or polluted with organic wastes. Development from egg to adult is temperature dependent- requiring 8 to 12 days in summer. After blood-feeding, females may return to the same or nearby larval habitats to oviposit and are often considered non-migratory mosquitoes. However, females may travel considerable distances from resting sites to search for blood hosts, and marked females have been shown to travel up to one half mile in a single night.

Culex restuans utilizes an exceptionally wide range of larval habitats. The water used by this species can vary from nearly clear to grossly polluted. A partial list of larval habitats includes: temporary ground water, the edge of grassy swampland, sphagnum bogs, road side ditches, tire ruts, hoof prints, discarded buckets, tires, catch basins, sewage effluent and septic seepage. Culex restuans regularly colonizes temporary ground pools that remain flooded after they have produced broods of floodwater Aedes. Culex restuans larvae remain in suitable habitats throughout the breeding season, usually mixed with one or more associate species.

This medium-sized mosquito breeds in permanent wooded swamps. The egg raft is irregularly rounded and usually is laid on the water surface near the roots of trees within swamps with muck-peat soils. The larvae prefer the cavities within the root system of the tree. This species feeds almost exclusively on birds. Cs. melanura is an indicator species for eastern encephalitis. Eastern encephalitis can occur only where this species is present. It is also the primary vector among birds.

This common mosquito breeds in shaded woodland pools and is a severe biter during the day in and near woods. The adults are indistinguishable from Ae. tormentor and are often associated with them, but occur in much larger numbers.

This common, "golden-brown" mosquito breeds principally in woodland pools where it can be a pest to humans during the spring.

This rare, large, yellow mosquito is unmistakable. It breeds in temporary woodland pools and the adults can be fierce biters in the woods.

This Aedes is mostly a woodland mosquito that is a fierce biter even during the daytime in or near woods. The species breeds in temporary woodlands or open grassy pools. They can be a serious pest, even entering houses when abundant.

This "silver-sided" mosquito breeds primarily in tree holes but it will also use artificial containers containing organic debris. The species is common in woodlands, where it can be a fierce daytime biter.

This very large mosquito has very shaggy legs and breeds in rain pools, grassy ditches and depressions statewide. The larvae are predaceous on other mosquitoes. The adults are severe biters, often alarming people because of their large size. This species is very similar to Ps. howardii.

This black mosquito, above average in size, breeds in a variety of temporary water situations including woodland pools, pastures and grassy ditches. The females can appear in enormous clouds and be a major pest at night up to five miles or so from the breeding site. The adults are not long-lived so the problem abates rapidly.

This common, blue-black, medium sized mosquito is easily recognized by its white "feet." It breeds in woodland pools and adjacent ditches. They can be a nuisance to humans and animals in the woods, day or night.

This species is similar to Ps. ciliata in most respects. This very large mosquito has shaggy legs and breeds in rain pools, grassy ditches and depressions statewide. The larvae are predaceous on other mosquitoes and the adults are severe biters, which can alarm people due to their large size. They are known to be long-distance fliers.