Mosquito

Mosquito [Span "little fly"], a fragile, long-legged FLY of order Diptera, family Culicidae. About 3000 species are known worldwide, at least 74 in Canada. Only females seek blood meals; both sexes feed on nectar.

Structure
All mosquitos have a long, slender proboscis (beak), a pair of slender, 15-segmented antennae, and densely scaled wing veins. The female proboscis has 6 long, pointed stylets that enter the victim's skin in rapid succession. The female may take 3 times her own weight in blood, using it for egg production.

Reproduction and Development
Eggs are laid on water or moist soil. Those laid on soil may hatch after flooding or may remain dormant until the next spring. Eggs deposited in aquatic habitats subject to drying, eg, shallow pools or water-filled containers, can resist desiccation for weeks or months.

All larvae are aquatic and, except for a few predaceous species, feed on detritus and micro-organisms. Pupae are aquatic and active, but nonfeeding. Adult life averages 3 weeks in summer, but Canadian species that overwinter as adults in protected places may live 8-9 months. One species may overwinter as larvae in water-filled leaves of the purple PITCHER PLANT. In some areas of Canada, these larvae may be ice-bound for 6-7 months. Most species are tropical.

Interaction with Humans

They are feared as transmitters of malaria, filariasis and dengue fever (affecting about 0.5 billion people annually). In Canada, mosquitos transmit human and equine encephalitis viruses and the NEMATODE causing dog heartworm.

In northern BOREAL FORESTS, mosquitos are serious INSECT PESTS of people and animals. Their bites cause considerable irritation and result in significant blood loss.

Author R.A. BRUST

Suggested Reading
D.M. Wood, P.T. Dang and R.A. Ellis, The Mosquitoes of Canada (1979).

Links to Other Sites
Canadian Biodiversity Website
A great information source for all budding biologists. Learn about biodiversity theory, natural history, and conservation issues. From McGill’s Redpath Museum.

West Nile Virus
Sort out the facts from the myths about the West Nile virus. Part of the HealthyOntario.com web site.

Spread the Net
The website for “Spread the Net,” an initiative that raises funds which UNICEF uses to provide free bednets to families to help protect them from the malaria parasite carried by mosquitoes.

E-Fauna BC
An extensively illustrated guide to wildlife species found in British Columbia. Covers bats, birds, beetles, bugs and much more. Also features an insect glossary and notes about invasive species. A biogeographic initiative of the Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, UBC.

University of Alberta's E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Check out images and information about insect specimens found in the University of Alberta's E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum, one of the most significant insect collections in Canada.

Benthic invertebrates
An online guide to benthic invertebrates found in or on the bottom sediments of rivers, streams, and lakes in Ontario and other regions of Canada. From ecospark.ca

Aquatic Invertebrates of Alberta Online Textbook
An online guide to all major groups of Alberta's aquatic invertebrates. Offers illustrated details of the natural history of each group as well as tips on collecting and preserving specimens. A University of Alberta website.