Common Mosquitoes Responsible for Disease Transmission
Aedes aegypti
Common Name: Yellow Fever Mosquito
Where Found: These mosquitoes live in tropical, subtropical, and in some temperate climates. They are found in the southern United States and on both coasts.
Transmits: Dengue, chikungunya, Zika, Mayaro, and Yellow Fever.
Comments:These are day biting mosquitoes that prefer to feed on human hosts. Due to this, they complete their life cycles in and around our homes. They are mostly black with white bands around their legs. They also have a white pattern on the top of their thorax that looks similar to a lyre; an ancient u-shaped stringed instrument.
Aedes aegypti. CDC/ Prof. Frank Hadley Collins, Dir., Cntr. for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Univ. of Notre Dame
Aedes albopictus
Common Name: Asian Tiger Mosquito
Where Found: These mosquitoes live tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates, but can live in a broader temperature range and at cooler temperatures than Ae. aegypti. They are widely distributed in the southeastern and eastern United States with some presence along the west coast.
Transmits: Dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and dirofilariasis
Comments: These mosquitoes feed on animals as well as people, they are less likely to spread viruses like Zika, dengue, chikungunya and other viruses. They are mostly black with white bands around their legs and have a single white line down the center of their thorax.
Aedes albopictus: CDC/ James Gathany
Culex species
Common Name: Common House Mosquito, West Nile Mosquito
Where Found: Throughout the entire United States.
Transmits: West Nile Virus and several types of encephalitis including; Japanese encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis. They can also transmit filariasis and avian malaria.
Comments: There are several species within the Culex genus that are capable of disease transmission. Some of the most notable are, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex tarsalis, Culex erythrothorax, and Culex pipiens. These mosquitoes are dominantly brown, with specific distinguishing characteristics between species. They primarily feed after dark, and prefer to feed on birds, but will feed on people if the opportunity presents itself. Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes are particularly good at adapting to their environments and are commonly found completing their life-cycle in direct proximity to humans.
Culex quinquefasciatus. CDC/James Gathany
Culex tarsalis. CDC/James Gathany
Further information on mosquitoes and the diseases they spread, as well as the information provided in this page can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dvbd/