Explanation of Names
japonicus, coming from the country they originally came from in 1998.
Identification
Larvae:
The head is very dark colored and the abdomen is very creamy colored.
Adult Female:
The pattern on the scutum is pretty distinctive. There are 5 golden striped scales and the lateral scales are pale and white in a lyre shape. There are also broad pale basal bands on the hind tarsomeres. The proboscis is dark and unbanded, sometimes with silvery scales.
Habitat
The eggs are usually laid in the rim of an artificial container. Any aritifical container will do for the larvae as long as it has enough food (decaying organic matter)
Food
Females prefer blood from mammals
Life Cycle
Overwinters as an egg or larva. Multivoltine
Remarks
This species was accidentally introduced from Japan in the late 90s. It was first identified in 1998 in New Jersey. It is now known that it is an important vector of West Nile Virus. The females are very aggresive biters
Internet References
Rutgers University has many technical details for identification as well as general information.
