Understanding Different Types of Mosquitoes

It may come as a surprise, but there are literally thousands of different species of mosquitoes out there.

While the biggest culprits are known for feeding on our blood and spreading dangerous diseases, some of them prefer feeding on other animals, and some rarer varieties don’t even feed on blood at all.

As the mosquito control professionals in Atlanta, we strive to keep our customers as educated as possible on mosquitoes and the threats they cause. With that being said, let’s break down the most common genus of mosquitoes in order to gain a better understanding of these dangerous pests:

Aedes Mosquito

The aedes mosquito was originally found in tropical areas, but have recently been spotted everywhere except Antarctica.

These mosquitoes in particular are notorious vectors for viral infections, including dengue fever, chikungunya, West Nile, and the increasingly threatening Zika virus.

The two most common species are the Aedes albopictus (also known as the Asian Tiger Mosquito) and the Aedes aegypti (also referred to as the Yellow Fever Mosquito).

Anopheles Mosquito

Also known as Marsh mosquitoes, the Anopheles mosquito has around 460 different species. Though, the most prominent species is the Anopheles gambiae, which is well known for both carrying and spreading the deadly disease known as malaria.

In fact, malaria is the number two cause of death across the globe, and is responsible for killing hundreds of millions of people worldwide.  

Culex

Also referred to as the House mosquito, the Culex genus contains several species that are vectors of encephalitis, West Nile, and Rift Valley fever (just to name a few).

This genus is found everywhere except the extreme North, and are the most common mosquito that are found in major US cities.

Culiseta

The Culiseta are an interesting genus, as they are one of the only mosquitoes to have adapted to the cold, and are found everywhere except South America.

Most species tend to bite mammals and birds, and their larvae is generally found in streams, ditches, rock pools, and ponds.

Mansonia

This genus is bigger than most of its mosquito counterparts, and is brown or black with sparkling legs and wings.

Mansonia are found in most parts of the world, and are known to transmit encephalitis. One important trait of Mansonia mosquitoes is that they prefer to bite in the evening.

Psorophora

With a realm of species, Psorophora vary in size, from small to very big, and are mostly found in tropical areas of North and South America.

These mosquitoes are vectors for both encephalitis and Ilheus virus and are sometimes referred to as flood-water mosquitoes, due to the fact that they like laying their eggs on mud.

Toxorhynchites

Also referred to as the Elephant mosquito, the Toxorhynchites doesn’t consume blood. Just like their male counterparts, the females feed on plant nectar, and don’t pose any risk to humans.

Interestingly enough, their larvae actually prey on the larvae of other mosquitoes, which is the reason it has been suggested that Toxorhynchites could be introduced in areas they don’t generally inhabit as a way to help fight dengue.

We hope you’re finding our blog helpful and informative! For more information on what makes Mr. Mister is a premier provider of innovative mosquito solutions and techniques click here. Or, visit our Testimonials page to see what some of our satisfied customers are saying.

Mr. Mister Mosquito Control
4016 Flowers Rd #400
Atlanta, GA 30360
(404) 941-0720