Page 80 - A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife
P. 80
quito
(Culicidae)
Description
Adult mosquitoes are slender true flies,
usually less than 1 centimeter long.
They have long thin legs and wings.
Some other true flies resemble mosquitoes, but only mosquitoes have long
thin mouthparts called a proboscis. Adult mosquitoes have long antennae.
The male mosquitoes’ antennae look very feathery, while the bloodsucking
females’ antennae are thin and threadlike.
Mosquitoes carry many viruses and Distribution and Habitat
parasites that may cause diseases
that are harmful and deadly to both Mosquitoes lay their eggs on the
humans and domesticated animals, surface of non-flowing fresh or
including malaria and West Nile virus. brackish water. The larvae live in
the water and come to the surface
The mosquitoes most likely to be to breathe. Adult mosquitoes can
seen during the day in the county are be found almost anywhere near
non-native Asian Tiger Mosquitoes. a water body. They live in all five
physiographic provinces, especially
in the Coastal Plain province where
they are found in huge numbers.
Role in Food Web
The larvae of most mosquito
species filter algae and bits of dead
plants and animals from the water. A
few species are predators on other
aquatic insects, including other
mosquito larvae. Adults drink nectar
from flowers for energy. Before
breeding, females bite vertebrates
to feed on their blood. Some species specialize in certain groups, like birds
or frogs, while others will bite whatever vertebrate they can find. Male
mosquitoes do not bite. Predators include mites, damselflies, dragonflies, orb-
weaver spiders, other spiders, Bluegills, salamander larvae, frogs, toads and
many kinds of birds.
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(Culicidae)
Description
Adult mosquitoes are slender true flies,
usually less than 1 centimeter long.
They have long thin legs and wings.
Some other true flies resemble mosquitoes, but only mosquitoes have long
thin mouthparts called a proboscis. Adult mosquitoes have long antennae.
The male mosquitoes’ antennae look very feathery, while the bloodsucking
females’ antennae are thin and threadlike.
Mosquitoes carry many viruses and Distribution and Habitat
parasites that may cause diseases
that are harmful and deadly to both Mosquitoes lay their eggs on the
humans and domesticated animals, surface of non-flowing fresh or
including malaria and West Nile virus. brackish water. The larvae live in
the water and come to the surface
The mosquitoes most likely to be to breathe. Adult mosquitoes can
seen during the day in the county are be found almost anywhere near
non-native Asian Tiger Mosquitoes. a water body. They live in all five
physiographic provinces, especially
in the Coastal Plain province where
they are found in huge numbers.
Role in Food Web
The larvae of most mosquito
species filter algae and bits of dead
plants and animals from the water. A
few species are predators on other
aquatic insects, including other
mosquito larvae. Adults drink nectar
from flowers for energy. Before
breeding, females bite vertebrates
to feed on their blood. Some species specialize in certain groups, like birds
or frogs, while others will bite whatever vertebrate they can find. Male
mosquitoes do not bite. Predators include mites, damselflies, dragonflies, orb-
weaver spiders, other spiders, Bluegills, salamander larvae, frogs, toads and
many kinds of birds.
r 76 r
