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Photo#237644
Mosquito - Culiseta impatiens - female

Mosquito - Culiseta impatiens - Female
Newton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
November 1, 2008
Size: 5 mm (approx.)
One of these was on the inside of the window trying to get out. Another was on the outside of the window trying to get in.

I have more closeups if something is missing from this one.

Images of this individual: tag all
Mosquito - Culiseta impatiens - female Mosquito - Culiseta impatiens - female Rear tarsus - Culiseta impatiens - female Thorax - Culiseta impatiens - female Mosquito - Culiseta impatiens - female

mosquito guess
I eliminated my guess, I think it was incorrect.

...
If you could upload some more shots, perhaps I can take a stab at it.

 
Shots to take
These shots are excellently crisp, but it would be handy to have a side view of the thorax and abdomen, and a view of the legs all the way to the tips. Some key identifying traits are on the tarsi, and hairs of the thorax and the patterns of the abdomen are important too.

 
Added two
I can blow up part of any of these shots by 3x, except the thorax view which is already as big as it gets.

The rear leg was most clear so I added that one. I know for some insects you need a specific leg for ID.

You identified a flaw in my insect photography cage. I use a transparent filter (the kind camera stores sell you to protect your lens). The geometry prevents a good side view. This first picture is the best view of the side of the abdomen. The top view shows a little bit through the wings.

It's actually easier when they are biting my shin, because they are preoccupied and I can rotate my leg to get a side view.

(The other flaw I found right after the mosquito shot -- I trapped an ant, which proceeded to hang upside down from the glass so I could only shoot its belly.)

 
...
I believe it is Culiseta impatiens. The dark tarsi and relative lack of specking on the femora preclude inornata.
The bright green eyes, slight-downcurved proboscis are good marks for living Culiseta

 
You're probably right.
My only concern is the sort-of side view... it looks like the white lateral triangles ascend toward the posterior, and that the white bands on the abdominal segments may be apical rather than basal.

 
One more
I added a closer view of the abdomen through the wings.

 
Ok.
Ok, after squinting at the latest image, I think the bands are basal after all. I agree that it is Cs. impatiens. Excellent photography!

 
...
Maybe those are apical? If they are apical and basal, and there are narrow pale bands on the hind tarsomeres, then it could be minnesotae.
I guess it is always better to have the specimen in hand.

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