Culex Mosquitoes

Facts

• Name: Culex pipiens, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex tarsalis (and other species within the genus Culex)
• Life cycle: Complete metamorphosis: egg to larva to pupa to adult
  Eggs: Laid in rafts on the surface of stagnant or slow-moving water
  Larvae: Larvae hatch within 48 hours and develop over 5 to 7 days
  Pupae: Pupae emerge into adults within 2 to 3 days
  Adult: Adults typically live for one to two weeks depending on environmental conditions
• Description:
  Medium-sized mosquitoes with plain brown or greyish bodies and no distinctive markings Wings are unscaled and clear Females bite primarily at dusk and during the night eggs are laid in clusters (rafts) that float on water surfaces
• Behaviour:
  Nocturnal feeders, with peak activity after sunset Females require blood meals for egg production and feed on birds, mammals, and humans Flight range is typically under two miles, but dispersal can be aided by wind and human activity Often found resting in cool, shaded areas during the day
• Habitat:

  Culex mosquitoes are globally distributed across temperate and tropical regions They breed in stagnant water sources such as ponds, ditches, drains, water barrels, and neglected containers Common in both urban and rural environments, especially near human habitation and livestock Adaptable to polluted water and artificial habitats