Species Ochlerotatus fitchii

Classification · Pronunciation · Identification · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · See Also

mosquito - Ochlerotatus fitchii - female

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 fitchii (Ochlerotatus fitchii)

Pronunciation

fitchee-i

Identification

The proboscis is unbanded with mivxed dark brown and yellow sclaes. Scutum has a broad reddish brown strip in the middle and yellowish scales laterally. Also has pale basal bands on the hind tarsomeres.

*To differenciate between Oc. excrucians and this mosqutio, the foreclaw must be examined.

Habitat

The larvae live in temporary and semi-permanent woodland pools, marshes and grassy ditches.

Season

Adults are typically found from May to August

Food

Females prefers blood of birds and mammals.

Life Cycle

This mosquito overwinters as an egg. It is a one generation per year mosquito (univoltine)

Remarks

Although this mosquito bites mammals and birds which make it a perfect vector for West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis no viruses have been isolated from it.

See Also

Ochlerotatus excrucians

Contributed by Omar Fahmy on 27 June, 2006 - 2:07pm
Last updated 1 July, 2006 - 9:01am

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