Mosquito - Ochlerotatus intrudens

Classification

Another instance where one has to define the difference between Ochlerotatus and Aedes. Isn't the new classification fun?

… Sean McCann, 11 November, 2005 - 9:35pm

very good photo

...certainly good enough for a "mosquito person" to easily name the genus.

I think we all could do much better to fill out this area of BugGuide; currently there's only 3 species listed under Culicidae, and that doesn't include the common House Mosquito (Culex pipiens) or any species of Anopheles. It's not like these things are scarce or hard to get close to, either...

… Robin McLeod, 27 July, 2005 - 10:36pm

Too common

We always look for the rare things and bypass the common. And I know I'm less inclined to photograph families that don't get identified, like this and the ichneumon wasps.

… tom murray, 27 July, 2005 - 11:09pm

Well, I'll do my best--species of Aedes

I'm hardly a mosquito person, but separating the three major genera, Anopheles, Aedes, Culex isn't hard. Here's my homemade key:

1a. maxillary palps as long or longer than antennae--Anopheles
1b. Maxillary palps shorter than antennae--couplet 2.

2a. Female abdomen usually pointed, wings all one color--Aedes
2b. Female abdomen usually blunt--Culex

Based on the short maxillary palps, and pointed abdomen, this looks like an Aedes sp. to me. BUT my little homemade key probably isn't perfect, and there are less common genera in the U.S. I believe, although the vast majority of specimens will fall into one of these three genera. Still, that's my best attempt.

… Ethan Friedman, 28 July, 2005 - 7:27am

Nice Key

Thanks Ethan, the key is a good start on seperating the different genera of mosquitoes.

… tom murray, 28 July, 2005 - 9:24am