| Aedes vexans | |
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Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Culicidae |
| Genus: | Aedes |
| Subgenus: | Aedimorphus |
| Species: | A. vexans |
| Binomial name | |
| Aedes vexans (Meigen), 1830 | |
Aedes vexans, commonly known as theinland floodwater mosquito ortomguito, is a widespread and frequently encountered pest mosquito with a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring acrossNorth America,Europe,Asia, andAfrica.[1]
The adult femaleA. vexans is characterized by a bandless proboscis with white ventral scales, short, brown scales on the scutum, and B-shaped markings (when viewed from the side) on each abdominal tergite.[2] Only females take blood meals, showing a preference for humans and cattle, while males feed exclusively on nectar, honeydew, and sap—sources that females also utilize, though infrequently.[3] This species is commonly found in habitats such as grassy pools, partially shaded woodland pools, roadside ditches, and cultivated fields.[4]
After a blood meal, the femaleA. vexans deposits her eggs in areas prone to flooding, where they remain dormant until inundated, triggering hatching.[5] In temperate regions, larvae are present from April to September, and adults are active from May to October.[4]
A. vexans is a recognized vector for several pathogens:
In Europe,A. vexans is the predominant mosquito species, often accounting for over 80% of the mosquito population in certain areas, with abundance tied to floodwater availability.[9] During summer, trap collections can yield up to 8,000 individuals per night.[9] The species has demonstrated a higher transmission efficiency forZika virus compared toA. aegypti, enhancing its potential as a vector in northern latitudes beyond the range of primary vectorsA. aegypti andA. albopictus, due to its wide distribution, periodic high abundance, and aggressive human-biting behavior.[10]
Additionally,A. vexans harbors insect-specific viruses, includingChaoyang virus[11] andAedes vexans Iflavirus,[12] which do not affect humans or other vertebrates but are of interest in virological studies.
Authority control databases: National |
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