Size
Small to medium sized mosquito.
Identification
Adult: Integument dark brown, proboscis dark scaled with row of white scales along dorsolateral edge. Ocular margin delineated with narrow line of white scales. Narrow submedian lines of white scales between acrostichal and dorsocentral rows of setae extending from anterior margin of scutum to prescutellar depression. Another set of lines of white scales extends along lateral portions of scutum from anterior margin, interrupted at scutal angle. A third set of white lines continues submedially from transverse suture to scutellum. Laterally postpronotum has narrow line of white scales parallel to body axis, a similar broader line extends along upper portions of katepisternum with another vertical line along posteroventral margin. Wings marked with patterns of white and dark scales, in this species R4+5 predominantly dark-scaled, base is white-scaled as is base of R2+3. Coxae white-scaled, femora and tibiae with scattered white scale oriented in longitudinal lines, fore-tarsus dark-scaled, middle tarsus dark-scaled except narrow white ring basal on 1st tarsomere, hind tarsomeres white-ringed apically and basally.
Almost identical to Or. alba, differing in wing scale pattern.
Larva: Head capsule darkly pigmented except around eye, head setae longer than antenna, body with reddish-brown pigment dorsally, segment VI with small irregular sclerite, segments VII and VIII with larger sclerites, that on VIII encircling ¾ of segment and accommodating comb scales, comb scales in 2 rows
Range
California, Oregon, Four Corners Region, Texas north to Michigan east to New England and South to Florida.
Habitat
Larvae in treeholes and bromeliads, other container habitats less frequently.
Food
Larvae: Filter feeders.
Adults: Little known, males and females feed on nectar, females presumed to seek bloodmeals from birds.
Life Cycle
Multivoltine in parts of their range. Overwinters as late-instar larvae. Larvae can withstand partial drying. Differing accounts say that oviposition occurs on water’s surface or on sides of container.
Remarks
*Information on this page provided by Sean McCann.
See Also
Orthopodomyia alba, almost identical, has white-scaled patches on R4+5, M1+2, CuA, and basal half of A.
Orthopodomyia kummi, has transverse line of pale scales on proepisternum, base of A dark-scaled, white lines on mesokatepisternum very narrow.
