Species Ochlerotatus communis

Classification · Pronunciation · Identification · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle

Mosquito 2 - Ochlerotatus communis - female

Tons of mosquito larvae - Ochlerotatus communis

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon ("Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera))

Infraorder Culicomorpha

Family Culicidae (Mosquitoes)

Genus Ochlerotatus

Species communis (Ochlerotatus communis)

Pronunciation

comm-u-nihs

Identification

Larvae:

- Antenna shorter than head with coarse spinules

- Antennal seta 1-A with four or more branches

- Mesothoracis seta 1-M much shorter than antenna

- Comb scale fringed apicall with 4 to 7 subequal spinules

Adult Female:

- Side of thorax with cream colored scales with goldn brown scales on scutum

- Scutellar and supraalar setae brownish black

- Mesokatepisternum with scales extened to near anterior angle

- Lower mesepimeron with setae

Habitat

Vernal (snowmmelt) pools in coniferous forests

Season

Larvae: March-May

Adults: May-June

Food

Females prefer blood of mammals

Life Cycle

- Overwinters as egg

- Univoltine

Contributed by Omar Fahmy on 29 May, 2007 - 5:08pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version