Floodwater-mosquito
Guides
Aedes increpitus
Aedes increpitus is a floodwater mosquito native to western North America, first described by Harrison Gray Dyar Jr. in 1916. It belongs to the subgenus Ochlerotatus within the Aedes genus and is part of a species complex that includes A. clivis and A. washinoi. The species is adapted to temporary aquatic habitats formed by seasonal flooding or snowmelt, with females laying drought-resistant eggs in moist substrates that hatch upon inundation. While females bite humans, the species is not considered a significant disease vector.
Ochlerotatus fitchii
Ochlerotatus fitchii is a mosquito species first described in 1904, originally placed in genus Culex before reclassification to Ochlerotatus. The species is present in both North America and Europe/Northern Asia. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits typical floodwater mosquito biology with eggs deposited in dry areas that hatch upon flooding.
Ochlerotatus implicatus
Ochlerotatus implicatus is a mosquito species in the family Culicidae, first described by Vockeroth in 1954. It has been documented in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of North America, where recent surveillance studies have recorded new distribution records for this species. The species belongs to the Aedes genus complex, which includes many floodwater mosquitoes. Research in northern Canada detected Jamestown Canyon virus in this species, indicating potential vector competence for California serogroup viruses.
Ochlerotatus sierrensis
Ochlerotatus sierrensis is a mosquito species in the family Culicidae, first described by Lynch-Arribalzaga in 1891. The species belongs to the genus Ochlerotatus, a group of floodwater mosquitoes whose taxonomy has undergone revision from formerly being classified within Aedes. As with other Ochlerotatus species, females require blood meals for egg development while males feed on nectar.
Ochlerotatus sticticus
Ochlerotatus sticticus is a floodwater mosquito species native to the Palearctic region, with established populations in Europe and northern Asia. It is a member of the floodwater mosquito group, characterized by eggs that can withstand desiccation and hatch when inundated by rainfall or flooding. The species exhibits distinct physiological and behavioral responses to larval habitat drying that differ from co-occurring floodwater species such as Aedes vexans, suggesting specialized adaptations to temporary aquatic environments.
Ochlerotatus stimulans
Woodland Floodwater Mosquito
Ochlerotatus stimulans is a floodwater mosquito species found across North America and parts of Africa. Females are aggressive biters of humans and other mammals, with activity peaking following rainfall events that flood their breeding habitats. The species is associated with woodland and forest edge environments where temporary pools form after precipitation. Taxonomic placement has shifted historically, with the species now generally classified in genus Ochlerotatus though sometimes retained in Aedes depending on classification system used.
Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus
black salt marsh mosquito
Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus, commonly known as the black salt marsh mosquito, is a floodwater mosquito species native to coastal and salt marsh habitats across the Americas. It is a significant nuisance species and disease vector, known to transmit Dirofilaria immitis (heartworm) and susceptible to Everglades virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. The species has been observed expanding its range and increasing in abundance following extreme weather events such as hurricanes and flooding. Laboratory studies indicate it readily feeds on both pork and cow blood through artificial membranes, with feeding preferences varying by population.
Ochlerotatus thibaulti
Ochlerotatus thibaulti is a mosquito species first described by Dyar and Knab in 1910. The species was originally placed in the genus Aedes and is now classified in the genus Ochlerotatus, a group of floodwater mosquitoes. Records indicate its presence in both Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China) and North America. Like other members of the genus, it likely breeds in temporary water sources such as floodplains and snowmelt pools.
Psorophora columbiae
dark ricefield mosquito, glades mosquito
Psorophora columbiae is a large, aggressive mosquito species native to North America, commonly known as the dark ricefield mosquito or glades mosquito. It is notorious for its capacity for massive population explosions following hurricane and flooding events, which have resulted in documented livestock fatalities through exsanguination. The species is a significant pest of mammals, including cattle, horses, sheep, and deer, and is considered difficult to repel with standard insect repellents.
Psorophora howardii
Howard's Gallinipper
Psorophora howardii is a large, aggressive floodwater mosquito native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. The species was described by Daniel William Coquillett in 1901. Adult females are persistent biters that attack humans and medium to large mammals at any time of day, with a proboscis strong enough to pierce through multiple layers of clothing. Larvae are predaceous, feeding on other mosquito larvae in temporary aquatic habitats. The species has demonstrated recent northward range expansion, with the first Canadian record documented in 2024 in southern Ontario.