Identification
Larva:
- antennal seta 1-A multibranched and extends beyond tip of the shaft
- head hair 5 multiple, smooth and head hair 6 single
- siphon six to seven times as long as wide as it is at the base
- anal saddle complete
Adult:
- proboscis weakly recurved
- scutum with dark brown or golden scales
- abdominal terga either all dark or with narrow basal bands on some segments
Habitat
Tree root cavities in maple and cedar swamps
Food
Female almost always feeds on birds for blood.
Life Cycle
Overwinters as a larva. Multivoltine
Remarks
This mosquito is the one responsible for keeping EEE sustained in the environment. By biting from bird to bird it transfers the virus around and when a mosquito comes that bites both humans and birds the virus is transferred from bird to human through the mosquito.
Contributed by
Omar Fahmy on 30 September, 2006 - 3:12pm
Last updated 23 November, 2006 - 9:26am
