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Species Culex tarsalis - Western Encephalitis Mosquito
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera))
Infraorder Culicomorpha (Mosquitoes and Midges)
Family Culicidae (Mosquitoes)
Tribe Culicini
Genus Culex
Species tarsalis (Western Encephalitis Mosquito)
Explanation of Names Culex tarsalis Coquillett, 1896 Numbers The genus contains 27 spp. n. of Mex. (1)Identification  < note banded hind legs and proboscis
Adult Female:
Scutum with middorsal acrostichal setae, hindtarsomeres with distinct apical and basal bands of pale scales, proboscis with complete distinct ring of pale scales, anterior of forefemur and tibia with pale stripe or line of pale-scaled spots, V-shaped dark marks on abdominal sterna.
Range CA-FL-OH-BC / n. Mex.
Most abundant in western agroecosystems and wetlands and relatively rare east of the Mississippi River. - Dr. William Reisen, 2002, 2013 Habitat Larvae tolerate a wide range of water conditions and may be abundant in agricultural tailwater, alkaline lake beds, fresh and saline wetlands, secondary treated sewage effluent and oil field run-off. Permanent water with fixed depth rarely supports abundant populations unless intermittently perturbated. Excessive organic pollution is not tolerated. - Dr. William Reisen, 2013 Season Temporal abundance patterns vary from summer-active in the north to winter-active in the south. - Dr. William Reisen, 2013 Life Cycle In spring, when population abundance is low, most females feed on birds shortly after sunset. During late summer when abundance is high, bird mosquito-avoidance behavior diverts many females to feed on mammals including rabbits, horses, cattle and man. This host shift may be important in virus transmission to horses and man. - Dr. William Reisen, 2013 Remarks Culex tarsalis is the most important mosquito vector of arboviruses in western North America - Dr. William Reisen, 2013 Print References Barker, C.M., B.F. Eldridge, and W.K. Reisen. 2010. Seasonal Abundance of Culex tarsalis and Culex pipiens Complex Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in California. Journal of Medical Entomology 47(5): 759–768. Full Text
Coquillett, D.W. 1896. New Culicidae from North America. The Canadian Entomologist 28(2): 43-44. Internet References Culex tarsalis - History, Biology, Ecology, Public Health and Control - Dr. William Reisen, 2002
western encephalitis mosquito, Culex tarsalis - Dr. William Reisen, Arborvirus Field Station, Bakersfield, CA, 2013
Works Cited | 2. | Handbook of the Mosquitoes of North America, 2nd Ed.
Matheson, R. 1966. Hafner Publishing Company, NY. viii + 314 pp. | |
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