Order: Diptera / Family: Culicidae
Mosquitoes
There are more than 2,500 species of mosquitoes in the world, over 50 can be found in California.
Only a handful of species found locally are capable of transmitting diseases to humans.
Mosquitoes need standing water to lay eggs.

Mosquitoes in the District
WNV: West Nile Virus | SLE: St. Louis Encephalitis | WEE: Western Equine Encephalomyelitis
Western Encephalitis
Species
Culex tarsalis
Breeding Habitat
Agricultural, natural or man-made sources
Public Health Importance
Primary vector of WNV, SLE, WEE
Banded Foul Water
Mosquito Species
Culex stigmatosoma
Breeding Habitat
Foul or polluted water (natural and man-made sources)
Public Health Importance
May act as enzootic amplifiers of SLE and WNV in nature
Asian Tiger
Mosquito Species
Aedes albopictus
Breeding Habitat
Containers (vases, flower saucers, tires) and plants (lucky bamboo, bromeliads)
Public Health Importance
Zika virus, dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya vector
Southern House
Mosquito Species
Culex quinquefasciatus
Breeding Habitat
Foul or polluted water (natural and man-made sources)
Public Health Importance
WNV, SLE, WEE
Cool Weather
Mosquito Species
Culiseta incidens
Breeding Habitat
Shaded clear water (natural and man-made sources
Public Health Importance
Not known to transmit disease in California
Yellow Fever
Mosquito Species
Aedes aegypti
Breeding Habitat
Indoor/outdoor containers (vases, saucers, tires) and plants (lucky bamboo, bromeliads)
Public Health Importance
Zika virus, dengue fever, yellow fever, and chikungunya vector
Tule or Cattail
Mosquito Species
Culex erythrothorax
Breeding Habitat
Marshes, lakes, ponds with tules and cattails
Public Health Importance
WNV vector (feeds mainly on birds)
Large Winter
Mosquito Species
Culiseta inornata
Breeding Habitat
Sunlit or shaded sources
Public Health Importance
Not known to transmit disease in Califorina
Australian Backyard
Mosquito Species
Aedes notoscriptus
Breeding Habitat
Natural and man-made containers
Public Health Importance
Canine heartworm vector
Mosquito Life Cycle
Mosquitoes can grow from egg to adult in 7 days.
Breeding habitats range from stagnant, polluted water to bright, sunlit bodies of water, to small containers such as indoor/outdoor vases and containers.
Invasive Aedes species lay eggs individually at the water line of natural and artificial containers.

Egg
Laid in clusters called rafts, which float on the surface of standing water.
Eggs hatch within days after contact with water.

Larva
Develop in standing water; most species surface to breathe air.
Molts several times and feeds on organic matter.

Pupa
The pupal stage is a resting, non-feeding stage.
May move to protective areas in order to continue development into an adult.

Adult
Rests on the surface until strong enough to fly, mate, and feed.
Only the females bite to obtain food.