Common Mosquito Species
found in
New Hanover County

• Aedes albopictus

• Aedes vexans

• Anopheles bradleyi/crucians

• Coquillettidia perturbans

• Culex nigripalpus

• Culiseta melanura

• Ochlerotatus (Aedes) atlanticus

• Ochlerotatus (Aedes) triseriatus

• Psorophora ciliata

• Psorophora ferox

• Psorophora howardii

• Ochlerotatus taeniorynchus

• Ochlerotatus sollicitans

Aedes albopictus "Asian Tiger Mosquito"
The Asian tiger mosquito is a container-inhabiting species, which lays its eggs in any water-containing receptacle in urban, suburban, rural and forested areas. Its primary habitats are artificial containers such as tires, flowerpots, cemetery urns/vases, buckets, tin cans, rain gutters, ornamental ponds, drums, even the finger holes of an abandoned bowling ball have been reported. Larvae can also be found in natural containers such as tree holes, bamboo pots, and leaf axils. Aedes albopictus is a very aggressive daytime biter with peaks generally occurring during the early morning and late afternoon. Its major means of dispersal is through the transport of used and waste tires. The movement of other water-holding containers could also play a role in expanding its range.

Aedes vexans
Aedes vexans can be found in many different habitats. Among these are: open rain pools, tire ruts, storm water management facilities (this includes detention, retention and infiltration basins), dredge spoil sites, salt marsh impoundments, ditches, areas in which streams or creeks have flooded over their banks, flooded woodlands, around the edges of semi-permanent swamps and bogs that are subject to some drying down, and woodland pools or any type of temporary rain pool. Larvae do not seem to exhibit a marked preference for either sunlight or shade within these habitats. Aedes vexans is a serious nuisance pest. Females will feed in shady places during the day; however, they are very active a dusk and vigorously seek blood meals at this time.

Anopheles bradleyi/crucians
Anopheles bradleyi/crucians larvae are found in margins of lakes, ponds, swamps and semi permanent and permanent pools, associated with aquatic vegetation. This mosquito prefers acid water in the larval habitat. Females bite at night and during the day in the woods. They also enter houses.

Coquillettidia perturbans
This large, salt and pepper mosquito breeds in established, permanent freshwater marshes containing emergent vegetation where there is a layer of detritus on the marsh bottom. The eggs are laid in a raft on the water surface, and the immature forms attach to the roots of the emergent plants. This aggressive mosquito is active for short periods at dusk and commonly flies three to five miles, often much farther. Females bite both humans and birds.

Culex nigripalpus
Culex nigripalpus larvae often develop in the rich organic mixture found in shallow flooded ditches. Larval development time is temperature dependent, and is most rapid in midsummer when the water temperature in the ditches may exceed 100 degrees F. Females are extremely opportunistic in their choice of a host, feeding on vertebrates ranging from tree frogs to humans. Females seek hosts and blood feed mainly during the crepuscular periods before sunrise and after sunset.

Culiseta melanura
This medium-sized mosquito breeds in permanent wooded swamps. The egg raft is irregularly rounded and usually is laid on the water surface near the roots of trees within swamps with muck-peat soils. The larvae prefer the cavities within the root system of the tree. This species feeds almost exclusively on birds. Culiseta melanura is an indicator species for eastern equine encephalitis in eastern North Carolina.

Ochlerotatus (Aedes) atlanticus
This common mosquito breeds in shaded woodland pools and is a severe biter during the day in and near woods.

Ochlerotatus (Aedes) triseriatus "Tree Hole Mosquito"
This "silver-sided" mosquito breeds primarily in tree holes but it will also use artificial containers containing organic debris. The species is common in woodlands, where it can be a fierce daytime biter.

Psorophora ciliata "Shaggy-Legged Gallinipper Mosquito"
This very large mosquito has very shaggy legs and breeds in rain pools, grassy ditches and depressions. The larvae are predaceous on other mosquitoes. The adults are severe biters, often alarming people because of their large size. This species is very similar to Psorohora howardii.

Psorophora ferox "White-Footed Mosquito"
This common, blue-black, medium sized mosquito is easily recognized by its white "feet." It breeds in woodland pools and adjacent ditches. They can be a nuisance to humans and animals in the woods, day or night.

Psorophora howardii "Howard's Gallinipper Mosquito"
This species is similar to Ps. ciliata in most respects. This very large mosquito has shaggy legs and breeds in rain pools, grassy ditches and depressions. The larvae are predaceous on other mosquitoes and the adults are severe biters, which can alarm people due to their large size. They are known to be long-distance fliers.

Ochelerotatus taeniorynchus “Black salt marsh mosquito”
This mosquito breeds in the upper regions of grass salt marshes where it is generally associated with spike grass (Distichlis spicata) and salt meadow hay (Spartina patens). Production also occurs in the high marsh associated with saltwort (Batis maritima) and glassworts (Salicornia species). It also breeds on dredge disposal islands along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.  It is commonly found associated with Ochelerotatus sollicitans.  Ochelerotatus taeniorynchus is a serious nuisance pest in coastal North Carolina and feed during the twilight periods, however resting females will readily attack hosts that enter their territory during the daytime.

Ochelerotatus (Aedes) sollicitans “Eastern salt marsh mosquito”
Ochelerotatus sollicitans larvae develop in pools and puddles that are produced by exceptional high tides and/or heavy rainfalls. Since these aquatic systems tend to dry up quickly, survival to the adult stage often depends on rapid larval development.  Eggs are laid individually on moist substrate around depression at the upper reaches of grassy salt marshes, especially in areas with salt meadow grass or salt grass. It also breeds on dredge disposal islands along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Ochelerotatus sollicitans is a serious nuisance pest in coastal North Carolina and feed during the twilight periods, however resting females will readily attack hosts that enter their territory during the daytime.