Do mosquitoes have any redeeming qualities? What stops us from completely eradicating them from off the face of the earth? What good are mosquitoes?
Mosquito
- David Bradt shares his experiences as an entomologist in the US Army.
Guides
Ochlerotatus squamiger
Ochlerotatus squamiger is a mosquito species in the family Culicidae, originally described as Culex squamiger by Coquillett in 1902. The species has undergone taxonomic reclassification, now placed in the genus Ochlerotatus, though it is also recognized as a synonym of Aedes squamiger in some taxonomic databases. It occurs in North America and Middle America. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a blood-feeding mosquito with females requiring blood meals for egg development, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
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 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.
Ochlerotatus togoi
Ochlerotatus togoi is a salt-tolerant euryhaline mosquito that inhabits coastal rock pools with salinities ranging from freshwater to seawater. It is a known vector of flaviviruses and filarial worms affecting humans, including Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia species. Rising sea levels have expanded its suitable habitat, increasing public health concerns in coastal regions. Laboratory studies show complex salinity-dependent life history traits: highest oviposition preference occurs in freshwater, yet optimal adult development occurs at moderate salinities around 25 psu.
Ochlerotatus tormentor
Ochlerotatus tormentor is a mosquito species in the family Culicidae, originally described as Aedes tormentor by Dyar and Knab in 1906. It belongs to the Ochlerotatus Group, a complex of related mosquito species within the Aedini tribe. The species has been documented in North America and Middle America based on distribution records. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to have aquatic larval stages and terrestrial adult stages, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Ochlerotatus trivittatus
Ochlerotatus trivittatus is a mosquito species in the Culicidae family, originally described by Coquillett in 1902 as Culex trivittatus. It belongs to the Ochlerotatus Group, a clade of related mosquitoes found in the Americas. The species has been documented across North America, Middle America, and South America. Genetic studies have examined its relationship to other Ochlerotatus Group species to clarify species boundaries within this taxonomically complex group.
Orthopodomyia
tree hole mosquito, ornate mosquito
A genus of wild mosquitoes comprising 36 species distributed primarily in tropical and temperate regions. Adults are predominantly nocturnal and essentially wild in habit. Most species are not recognized as epidemiologically important vectors due to limited bionomic knowledge. The genus is phylogenetically close to tribe Mansoniini based on molecular evidence.
Orthopodomyia signifera
Ornate Treehole Mosquito
Orthopodomyia signifera is a container-breeding mosquito species in the family Culicidae. It is commonly known as the ornate treehole mosquito. The species develops in tree holes and has been documented across North America, the Caribbean, and Middle America.
Psorophora
gallinipper
Psorophora is a genus of large mosquitoes in the subfamily Culicinae, tribe Aedini, described by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1827. The genus comprises approximately 50 species distributed across the Americas, with three recognized subgenera: Psorophora, Janthinosoma, and Grabhamia. Several species, notably Psorophora ciliata and P. ferox, are among the largest mosquitoes in the world and are known for aggressive biting behavior. Larvae of some species are obligate predators with specialized anatomical adaptations for capturing prey.
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 cyanescens
Psorophora cyanescens is a mosquito species in the family Culicidae, first described by Coquillett in 1902. The species belongs to the genus Psorophora, which includes several predatory mosquito species whose larvae feed on other aquatic insects. Adults are found across a broad geographic range spanning the Caribbean, Middle America, North America, and South America. Specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in the available literature.
Psorophora ferox
White-footed Woods Mosquito
Psorophora ferox is a medium-sized floodplain mosquito native to the Americas, commonly known as the white-footed woods mosquito. It inhabits wet woodlands and temporary pools, with eggs requiring flooding to hatch. The species has expanded its range northward in recent years, becoming increasingly dominant in floodplain mosquito communities in the northeastern United States. Adults are aggressive biters with painful bites and are active during both day and night.
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.
Psorophora longipalpus
Psorophora longipalpus is a mosquito species in the family Culicidae, first described by Randolph and O'Neill in 1944. It belongs to the genus Psorophora, which includes some of the largest and most aggressive mosquitoes in North America. The genus is known for containing predatory species whose larvae feed on other aquatic insects.
Psorophora mathesoni
Matheson's Mosquito
Psorophora mathesoni is a mosquito species in the family Culicidae, first described by Belkin and Heinemann in 1975. It belongs to the subgenus Janthinosoma within the genus Psorophora. The species was first recorded in Kansas in 2007, representing a westward range expansion from its previously known distribution in the eastern United States. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with floodplain habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Psorophora signipennis
Mottled Mosquito
Psorophora signipennis, commonly known as the Mottled Mosquito, is a species of mosquito in the family Culicidae. The species is distributed across Middle America and North America. Like other members of the genus Psorophora, it is presumed to be a predatory mosquito with larvae that feed on other mosquito larvae, though specific behavioral studies for this species have not been documented. Adult females are blood-feeders, while both sexes consume nectar for flight energy.
Psorophora varipes
Psorophora varipes is a mosquito species in the family Culicidae, belonging to the genus Psorophora, which includes some of the largest and most aggressive mosquitoes in the world. The genus is notable for containing predatory species whose larvae feed on other insect larvae. Adults are robust and capable of delivering painful bites. The species occurs across the Americas, from North America through the Caribbean to South America.
Uranotaenia lowii
Pale-footed Uranotaenia
Uranotaenia lowii is a frog-biting mosquito distributed across the Americas. The species exhibits a unique phonotactic behavior: females are attracted to the acoustic calls of male frogs, specifically the barking tree frog (Hyla gratiosa). This represents the first documented case of a female mosquito being attracted to host sound rather than visual or chemical cues. The species inhabits lowland environments and has been documented using 450 Hz frequency detection via antennae to locate hosts.
Uranotaenia sapphirina
Sapphire-striped Mosquito
Uranotaenia sapphirina is a mosquito species notable as the first documented mosquito specializing on non-vertebrate hosts. Females feed primarily on annelids including earthworms and leeches rather than vertebrate blood, a feeding strategy unique among mosquitoes. The species occurs across eastern North America from Canada to Florida and west to Texas, with additional records in Mexico and the Caribbean. Adults overwinter and larvae develop in semi-permanent and permanent wetlands with abundant vegetation.
Wyeomyia
Wyeomyia is a genus of neotropical mosquitoes comprising approximately 140 species, first described by Frederick Vincent Theobald in 1901. The genus is taxonomically challenging due to high species diversity and incomplete delineation. Adults are diurnal and primarily forest-dwelling, with larvae developing in phytotelmata—water held by plants such as bromeliads, aroids, and pitcher plants. Most species feed on blood and will bite humans, though they are not confirmed vectors of human disease.
Wyeomyia vanduzeei
Bromeliad Mosquito
Wyeomyia vanduzeei is a mosquito species in the family Culicidae, first described by Dyar and Knab in 1906. It is commonly known as the bromeliad mosquito, reflecting its association with bromeliad plants. The species has been demonstrated experimentally to serve as a host for Plasmodium hermani, a malaria parasite of wild turkeys. Its distribution includes the Caribbean and North America.