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UNDERSTANDING THE MOSQUITO
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Types of Mosquitoes
There are more than 2,700 species of mosquitoes in the world, and there are 13 mosquito
genera (plural for "genus") that live in the United States. Of these genera, most mosquitoes
belong to three:
Aedes - These are sometimes called "floodwater" mosquitoes because flooding is important
for their eggs to hatch. Aedes mosquitoes have abdomens with pointed tips. They include
such species as the yellow-fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and the Asian tiger mosquito
(Aedes albopictus). They are strong fliers, capable of travelling great distances (up to 75
miles/121 km) from their breeding sites. They persistently bite mammals (especially humans),
mainly at dawn and in the early evening. Their bites are painful.
\
Anopheles - These tend to breed in bodies of permanent fresh water. Anopheles mosquitoes
also have abdomens with pointed tips. They include several species, such as the common
malaria mosquito (Anopheles quadrimaculatus), that can spread malaria to humans.
Culex - These tend to breed in quiet, standing water. Culex mosquitoes have abdomens with
blunt tips. They include several species such as the northern house mosquito (Culex pipiens).
They are weak fliers and tend to live for only a few weeks during the summer months. They
persistently bite (preferring birds over humans) and attack at dawn or after dusk. Their bite is
painful.
There are more than 2,700 species of mosquitoes in the world, and there are 13 mosquito
genera (plural for "genus") that live in the United States. Of these genera, most mosquitoes
belong to three:
Aedes - These are sometimes called "floodwater" mosquitoes because flooding is important
for their eggs to hatch. Aedes mosquitoes have abdomens with pointed tips. They include
such species as the yellow-fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and the Asian tiger mosquito
(Aedes albopictus). They are strong fliers, capable of travelling great distances (up to 75
miles/121 km) from their breeding sites. They persistently bite mammals (especially humans),
mainly at dawn and in the early evening. Their bites are painful.
\
Anopheles - These tend to breed in bodies of permanent fresh water. Anopheles mosquitoes
also have abdomens with pointed tips. They include several species, such as the common
malaria mosquito (Anopheles quadrimaculatus), that can spread malaria to humans.
Culex - These tend to breed in quiet, standing water. Culex mosquitoes have abdomens with
blunt tips. They include several species such as the northern house mosquito (Culex pipiens).
They are weak fliers and tend to live for only a few weeks during the summer months. They
persistently bite (preferring birds over humans) and attack at dawn or after dusk. Their bite is
painful.
Bites and Diseases
Only female mosquitoes bite. They are attracted by several things, including heat (infrared
light), light, perspiration, body odor, lactic acid and carbon dioxide. The female lands on your
skin and sticks her proboscis into you (the proboscis is very sharp and thin, so you may not
feel it going in). Her saliva contains proteins (anticoagulants) that prevent your blood from
clotting. She sucks your blood into her abdomen (about 5 microliters per serving for an Aedes
aegypti mosquito).
Photo courtesy Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, photographer Jim Gathany
This female Anopheles gambiae mosquito is feeding. You can see the blood swelling her
abdomen.
If she is disturbed, she will fly away. Otherwise, she will remain until she has a full abdomen. If
you were to cut the sensory nerve to her abdomen, she would keep sucking until she burst.
After she has bitten you, some saliva remains in the wound. The proteins from the saliva
evoke an immune response from your body. The area swells (the bump around the bite area
is called a wheal), and you itch, a response provoked by the saliva. Eventually, the swelling
goes away, but the itch remains until your immune cells break down the saliva proteins.
Not HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS cannot survive in a mosquito, and
therefore cannot be transmitted from one person to another through mosquito bites.
To treat mosquito bites, you should wash them with mild soap and water. Try to avoid
scratching the bite area, even though it itches. Some anti-itch medicines such as Calamine
lotion or over-the-counter cortisone creams may relieve the itching. Typically, you do not
need to seek medical attention (unless you feel dizzy or nauseated, which may indicate a
severe allergic reaction to the bite).
Diseases
Mosquitoes can carry many types of diseases that are caused by bacteria, parasites or
viruses. These diseases include:
Malaria - Malaria is caused by a parasite that is transmitted by an Anopheles mosquito. The
parasite grows in your bloodstream and can produce symptoms that develop anywhere from
six to eight days to several months after infection.The symptoms include fever, chills,
headaches, muscle aches and general malaise (similar to flu symptoms). Malaria is a severe
disease that can be fatal, but can be treated with antimalarial drugs. Malaria is prevalent in
tropical or sub-tropical climates.
Yellow Fever - Yellow fever no longer occurs in the United States or Europe, but it is prevalent
in Africa and parts of South America. It is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Yellow
fever produces symptoms similar to malaria, but also includes nausea, vomiting and jaundice.
Like malaria, yellow fever can be fatal. There is no treatment for the disease itself, only the
symptoms. Yellow fever can be controlled by vaccination and mosquito control.
Encephalitis - Encephalitis is caused by viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes such as
the Aedes mosquitoes or Culiseta mosquitoes. The symptoms of encephalitis include high
fever, stiff neck, headache, confusion and laziness/sleepiness. There are several types of
encephalitis that can be transmitted by mosquitoes, including St. Louis, Western equine,
Eastern equine, La Crosse and West Nile. West Nile encephalitis is on the rise in the
United States, which has raised concerns about mosquito control .
Dengue Fever - Dengue fever is transmitted by the Asian tiger mosquito, which is native to
East Asia and was found in the United States in 1985. It is also transmitted by Aedes aegypti in
the tropics. Dengue fever is caused by a virus that produces a range of illnesses, from viral flu
to hemorrhagic fever. It is especially dangerous for children (see Dengue Fever & Dengue
Hemorrhagic Fever.
Only female mosquitoes bite. They are attracted by several things, including heat (infrared
light), light, perspiration, body odor, lactic acid and carbon dioxide. The female lands on your
skin and sticks her proboscis into you (the proboscis is very sharp and thin, so you may not
feel it going in). Her saliva contains proteins (anticoagulants) that prevent your blood from
clotting. She sucks your blood into her abdomen (about 5 microliters per serving for an Aedes
aegypti mosquito).
Photo courtesy Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, photographer Jim Gathany
This female Anopheles gambiae mosquito is feeding. You can see the blood swelling her
abdomen.
If she is disturbed, she will fly away. Otherwise, she will remain until she has a full abdomen. If
you were to cut the sensory nerve to her abdomen, she would keep sucking until she burst.
After she has bitten you, some saliva remains in the wound. The proteins from the saliva
evoke an immune response from your body. The area swells (the bump around the bite area
is called a wheal), and you itch, a response provoked by the saliva. Eventually, the swelling
goes away, but the itch remains until your immune cells break down the saliva proteins.
Not HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS cannot survive in a mosquito, and
therefore cannot be transmitted from one person to another through mosquito bites.
To treat mosquito bites, you should wash them with mild soap and water. Try to avoid
scratching the bite area, even though it itches. Some anti-itch medicines such as Calamine
lotion or over-the-counter cortisone creams may relieve the itching. Typically, you do not
need to seek medical attention (unless you feel dizzy or nauseated, which may indicate a
severe allergic reaction to the bite).
Diseases
Mosquitoes can carry many types of diseases that are caused by bacteria, parasites or
viruses. These diseases include:
Malaria - Malaria is caused by a parasite that is transmitted by an Anopheles mosquito. The
parasite grows in your bloodstream and can produce symptoms that develop anywhere from
six to eight days to several months after infection.The symptoms include fever, chills,
headaches, muscle aches and general malaise (similar to flu symptoms). Malaria is a severe
disease that can be fatal, but can be treated with antimalarial drugs. Malaria is prevalent in
tropical or sub-tropical climates.
Yellow Fever - Yellow fever no longer occurs in the United States or Europe, but it is prevalent
in Africa and parts of South America. It is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Yellow
fever produces symptoms similar to malaria, but also includes nausea, vomiting and jaundice.
Like malaria, yellow fever can be fatal. There is no treatment for the disease itself, only the
symptoms. Yellow fever can be controlled by vaccination and mosquito control.
Encephalitis - Encephalitis is caused by viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes such as
the Aedes mosquitoes or Culiseta mosquitoes. The symptoms of encephalitis include high
fever, stiff neck, headache, confusion and laziness/sleepiness. There are several types of
encephalitis that can be transmitted by mosquitoes, including St. Louis, Western equine,
Eastern equine, La Crosse and West Nile. West Nile encephalitis is on the rise in the
United States, which has raised concerns about mosquito control .
Dengue Fever - Dengue fever is transmitted by the Asian tiger mosquito, which is native to
East Asia and was found in the United States in 1985. It is also transmitted by Aedes aegypti in
the tropics. Dengue fever is caused by a virus that produces a range of illnesses, from viral flu
to hemorrhagic fever. It is especially dangerous for children (see Dengue Fever & Dengue
Hemorrhagic Fever.
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