Arbovirus
Guides
Aedes aegypti
yellow fever mosquito, dengue mosquito, Egyptian mosquito
Aedes aegypti is a small, dark mosquito and the primary global vector of dengue fever, yellow fever, Zika virus, and chikungunya. Native to Africa, it has become established in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions worldwide through human commerce and travel. The species is highly adapted to urban environments, breeding in artificial water containers and feeding preferentially on humans. Females require blood meals for egg development and are responsible for disease transmission. The species exhibits significant insecticide resistance, particularly to pyrethroids, complicating control efforts.
Aedes albopictus
Asian tiger mosquito, forest mosquito, tiger mosquito
Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, is a highly invasive vector species native to tropical and subtropical Southeast Asia. It has spread globally through human commerce, particularly via used tires and shipping containers. The species is distinguished by striking black and white banded legs and a white dorsal thoracic stripe. It is a significant public health threat as an efficient vector for dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and other arboviruses. Unlike many mosquitoes, it bites during daytime hours and thrives in urban environments, breeding in small artificial water containers.
Aedes cinereus
Minute Floodwater Mosquito
Aedes cinereus, commonly known as the minute floodwater mosquito, is a widespread mosquito species found across northern North America and Europe. It is notable for its aggressive biting behavior toward humans and its role as a vector for arboviruses, particularly Ockelbo virus in northern Europe. The species thrives in wetland habitats with semi-permanent water bodies and demonstrates adaptability by occasionally breeding in artificial containers. Research has also demonstrated its competence for Lammi virus, an insect-specific orthoflavivirus with possible transovarial transmission.
Aedes vexans
inland floodwater mosquito, tomguito
Aedes vexans is a cosmopolitan floodwater mosquito native to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, and is now established in Australia. It is frequently the most abundant mosquito species across much of its range, particularly in northern latitudes. Females are aggressive human biters active at dusk, while males feed exclusively on nectar. The species is a documented vector for multiple pathogens including dog heartworm, Tahyna virus, and West Nile virus, and has demonstrated laboratory competence for Zika virus transmission. Its eggs survive winter in dry flood-prone soils, hatching when inundated by rainfall.
Culex
typical mosquitoes
Culex is a diverse genus of mosquitoes comprising over 1,000 species across more than 20 subgenera. Several species serve as important disease vectors, transmitting arboviruses including West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis, as well as filariasis and avian malaria. The genus occurs worldwide except for extreme northern temperate regions and is the most commonly encountered mosquito in many major U.S. cities. While most Culex species exhibit characteristic raft-forming egg-laying behavior, at least one species, Culex antillummagnorum, has been documented with unique aerial and "barrage" oviposition strategies.
Culex erraticus
Erratic Mosquito
Culex erraticus is a mosquito species in the family Culicidae, subgenus Melanoconion. It is a documented vector of eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) and West Nile virus, with females exhibiting aggressive biting behavior toward birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. The species shows distinctive seasonal host-shifting behavior, feeding primarily on ectothermic hosts during warmer months and shifting to endothermic hosts during cooler periods. It has been observed overwintering as adults in gopher tortoise burrows in Florida and in swamp habitats elsewhere.
Culex nigripalpus
Florida SLE mosquito
Culex nigripalpus, commonly known as the Florida SLE mosquito, is a medium-sized, dark-colored blood-feeding mosquito and a significant disease vector in subtropical regions. It serves as the primary enzootic vector of Saint Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus to wild birds and the primary epidemic vector to humans in Florida. The species has been demonstrated capable of transmitting West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis virus, dog heartworm, and Avian malaria. Its habit of feeding on both birds and mammals gives it substantial potential for zoonotic transmission from birds to humans.
Culex tarsalis
Western Encephalitis Mosquito
Culex tarsalis is a mosquito species distributed across North America, with particular importance in the western United States as a vector of multiple arboviruses. The species is distinguished by black and white banding on the legs. It serves as the primary vector for West Nile virus in agricultural areas of California and transmits Saint Louis encephalitis virus, Western equine encephalitis virus, and avian malaria parasites. Some populations exhibit autogeny, the ability to produce eggs without blood feeding. The species has been the subject of extensive genetic research, with a reference genome published in 2020.
Culicoides
biting midges, no-see-ums
Culicoides is a genus of over 1,000 species of biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae. These tiny flies, measuring 1–3 mm in length, are significant vectors of animal pathogens including bluetongue virus, epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, and Schmallenberg virus. Only females take blood meals, required for egg maturation, while both sexes feed on nectar. The genus has a fossil record extending to approximately 99 million years ago in Burmese amber.
Culiseta melanura
black-tailed mosquito, dark-tailed mosquito
Culiseta melanura, the black-tailed mosquito, is a North American mosquito species and the primary enzootic vector of eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV). Adult females feed almost exclusively on birds, with strong preferences for species such as wood thrush, American robin, and northern cardinal. The species maintains EEEV transmission among avian hosts throughout its range in eastern and central North America. In Florida, populations persist year-round in wet tree holes, serving as a reservoir that may reseed northern populations annually.
Mansonia
Mansonia mosquito
Mansonia is a genus of mosquitoes in the family Culicidae. Adults are large, dark-colored mosquitoes with distinctive iridescent scaling on wings and legs. The genus is notable for its unique larval and pupal biology: immature stages attach to submerged rootlets of aquatic plants using modified siphons to obtain oxygen, rather than surfacing to breathe. Several species serve as vectors of human and animal pathogens, including filarial worms and arboviruses. The genus has a global distribution, with particular abundance in tropical and subtropical regions associated with permanent freshwater habitats.
Mansoniini
Mansoniini is a tribe of mosquitoes comprising approximately 83 species in two genera: Mansonia (25 species) and Coquillettidia (58 species). Members exhibit unique larval biology, using aquatic plants as respiratory substrates rather than surfacing directly for air. Adults display preferentially crepuscular and nocturnal hematophagic activity. Several species have been implicated as vectors for arboviruses including Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus, and Mayaro virus. The tribe shows strong sensitivity to seasonal meteorological variation, with temperature and precipitation directly influencing population dynamics.
Ochlerotatus scapularis
Aedes scapularis
Ochlerotatus scapularis is a neotropical mosquito species with expanding distribution, now established in mainland Florida after first detection in the Florida Keys in 1945. The species exhibits strong anthropophilic feeding behavior, with documented human blood meals comprising 83% of engorged females. It is known to transmit multiple pathogens of medical and veterinary importance, including yellow fever virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, and Dirofilaria immitis. Recent ecological niche modeling predicts potential for further northward expansion along the US Gulf Coast.
Ochlerotatus sollicitans
eastern saltmarsh mosquito, salt marsh mosquito
Ochlerotatus sollicitans, commonly known as the eastern saltmarsh mosquito, is a floodwater mosquito species native to coastal regions of eastern North America. It is a significant pest species known for aggressive biting behavior and daytime activity. The species is a competent vector for several arboviruses including Eastern equine encephalitis virus and West Nile virus. Its populations can explode following tidal flooding or heavy rainfall events in salt marsh habitats.
Ochlerotatus triseriatus
eastern treehole mosquito, treehole mosquito
Ochlerotatus triseriatus, the eastern treehole mosquito, is a container-breeding mosquito native to North America. It is the primary enzootic vector of La Crosse virus, the leading cause of arboviral encephalitis in children in the United States. Larvae develop in natural tree holes and artificial water-holding containers, feeding on microbial communities associated with decaying organic matter. The species exhibits strong density-dependent survival, with larval crowding significantly reducing per-capita survival rates—a trait that has important implications for mosquito control strategies.