Culicidae

mosquitoes, mosquito

Tribe Guides

9

, commonly known as mosquitoes, is a of small flies in the order Diptera. Females of most are that feed on vertebrate blood using specialized , while males feed exclusively on plant nectar and other sugar sources. The family includes thousands of species distributed worldwide, with many serving as for significant human and animal including , , , and West Nile virus. Mosquitoes require standing water to complete their aquatic larval and pupal stages.

Culiseta impatiens by (c) Owen Strickland, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Owen Strickland. Used under a CC-BY license.Psorophora ferox by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Culicini by (c) Lek Khauv, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Lek Khauv. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Culicidae: //kjuːˈlɪsɪdiː//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Mosquitoes are distinguished from other small flies by their long, slender legs; narrow, elongated wings with along the and margins; and a prominent, elongated in females adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. typically hold their wings flat over the at rest. Larvae, called wrigglers, are aquatic with a distinctive siphon tube for breathing at the water surface. Pupae, called tumblers, are comma-shaped and also aquatic, breathing through a pair of respiratory trumpets.

Images

Habitat

Mosquitoes occupy diverse environments but require standing water for larval and pupal development. Natural breeding sites include tree holes, swales, and shallow water bodies. Artificial containers such as bird baths, rain barrels, tires, wheelbarrows, buckets, and clogged gutters commonly support urban . Some breed in slowly moving streams, though the vast majority depend on stagnant water. Wet northern meadows with permafrost-influenced hydrology support Arctic and subarctic species.

Distribution

distribution with present on every continent except Antarctica. including Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) and Aedes japonicus (Japanese bush mosquito) have established across Europe since the late 1990s, with continued range expansion documented annually. Aedes albopictus is established in urban and suburban areas throughout Serbia and many European countries. Aedes japonicus has more limited distribution in Europe but is widespread in Croatia and detected in Serbia.

Seasonality

Activity patterns vary by and latitude. Temperate species typically exhibit seasonal peaks in summer months, with triggered when temperatures reach 19.5–30.5°C and nighttime temperatures remain above 9.5–12.0°C. Many species enter reproductive in autumn in response to short daylength, ceasing blood-feeding and redirecting energy to survival. Artificial light at night has been demonstrated to disrupt diapause induction, potentially extending the active season in urban areas. Peak abundance in subarctic regions occurs in early July.

Diet

males feed exclusively on -rich sources including plant nectar and honeydew. Adult females feed intermittently on nectar but require vertebrate blood as a protein source for production. Larvae are , consuming small organic particles and microorganisms from water using brush-like mouthparts.

Host Associations

  • humans - blood females feed on human blood; primary for many urban
  • birds - blood and important for West Nile virus; attracted by nonanal aldehyde
  • horses - blood documented in Momsky region study; used as animals
  • mammals - blood various
  • reptiles - blood documented feeding
  • amphibians - blood documented feeding
  • fish - blood some feed on fish

Life Cycle

Complete with four distinct stages: , larva, pupa, and . Eggs are laid either singly near water lines (Aedes ) or in floating rafts of 150+ eggs (Culex species). Larvae pass through four instars, molting between each, and breathe through a siphon while hanging beneath the water surface. Pupae are non-feeding, mobile, and breathe through paired respiratory trumpets. Adults emerge from the pupal case within 1–2 days. Development from egg to adult can occur in approximately one week under favorable conditions. Preimaginal development in subarctic occurs at high in shallow, well-warmed water bodies that persist until late July.

Behavior

Females of many exhibit feeding activity, preferring to bite at dusk. Aedes albopictus and some other are distinctive daytime biters, extending biting pressure throughout daylight hours. are weak fliers that do not navigate effectively in wind; air movement of even moderate breeze reduces biting rates. location relies on olfactory cues including carbon dioxide, lactic acid in sweat, and specific aldehydes such as nonanal rather than visual attraction to light. Mating typically occurs in swarms. Females exhibit blood-feeding only after mating in most species.

Ecological Role

serve as food for insectivorous birds, bats, and other . Larvae and pupae are consumed by fish and aquatic . As , they transmit between vertebrate , playing significant roles in . such as Aedes albopictus compete aggressively with native mosquito for breeding sites, potentially suppressing native .

Human Relevance

Primary of humankind's deadliest including , , , , and West Nile virus. West Nile virus has caused over 1,500 deaths in the United States since 1999. Bites cause nuisance, allergic reactions, and secondary from scratching. Control relies on eliminating standing water, applying containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), and personal protection using repellents. DEET remains the gold standard repellent; effective alternatives include lemon eucalyptus oil, 2-undecanone, and permethrin-treated clothing. Light traps are ineffective and kill billions of non-target beneficial insects annually. Fans reduce biting by disrupting . Ultrasonic devices, garlic, bananas, and vitamin B have no demonstrated repellent efficacy.

Similar Taxa

More Details

Insecticide resistance

Widespread resistance to multiple classes has been documented globally, with significant regional heterogeneity in resistance distribution even among geographically isolated island . Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus in the Indian Ocean region exhibits strong resistance to all major insecticide used in control programs.

Circadian clock manipulation

Research using interference to reduce circadian clock proteins in Culex pipiens has demonstrated that mosquitoes can be tricked into perceiving incorrect seasonal timing, potentially disrupting induction and seasonal biting patterns.

Urban heat islands and light pollution

Artificial light at night at approximately 4 lux causes female Culex pipiens to avert , become reproductively active, and continue blood-feeding later into the season, potentially extending transmission risk in urban environments.

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Sources and further reading