Species Psorophora columbiae - Dark Ricefield Mosquito

known as the "Glades Mosquito" in FL

colum-bee-aye

Psorophora columbiae (Dyar and Knab)

Orig. Comb: Janthinosoma columbiae Dyar and Knab 1906

Syn: Ps. confinnis

Medium-sized mosquito.

large dark mosquito - FMEL

- banded abdomen and legs - FMEL

- base of proboscis has wide pale band - FMEL

Florida Medical Entomology Lab - FMEL

Adult: Medium-sized, dark brown or dull black in color. Proboscis dark on apical quarter, remainder yellowish, although dark scales present at base. Femora with narrow subapical pale ring, tibiae liberally sprinkled with white scales, 1st tarsomere with median stripe, and all tarsomeres with basal white stripes. Wing veins with dark and pale scales intermixed.

Larva: Antenna much shorter than head, Setae 5-C and 6-C with four or more branches, base in a straight line to 7-C, siphon moderately inflated (bulbous) medially, 3-6 widely spaced pecten teeth, Seta 1-S as long as apical width of siphon.

e. US to so. CA (1) / W. Indies / Mex. to S. Amer. (Meisch 1994)

reaches its greatest abundance in the rice growing areas of the southwestern U.S. where astronomical numbers, similar in magnitude to the production of saltmarsh mosquitoes, may occur. (Meisch 1994)

Larvae in temporary and permanent pools, with grassy or wooded margins, often abundant in rice fields.

Differing accounts say that oviposition occurs on rank vegetation surrounding pools, or on bare mud.

Multivoltine in parts of their range, depending on rainfall.

Larvae: Filter feeders

Adults: Males and females feed on nectar, females said to seek bloodmeals from any warm-blooded host, especially cattle.

Overwinters as diapausing egg. Eggs can withstand desiccation.

The females are furious biters in day or night. Hosts include any warm blooded animal; however bovine blood seems to be preferred. (Meisch 1994)

*Information on this page provided by Sean McCann.

Psorophora pygmaea, hindtarsomere 1 dark-scaled except for narrow basal pale ring.

Psorophora discolor, hindtarsomere 1 largely pale-scaled, dark and light wing scales in definite pattern.

Meisch, M.V. 1994. The dark ricefield mosquito Psorophora columbiae. Wing Beats, 5(1): 8.

Rutgers - Dr. Max Meisch

Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory - FMEL