Aedes Mosquitoes

Facts

• Name: Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus (and other species within the genus Aedes)
• Life cycle: Complete metamorphosis: egg to larva to pupa to adult
  Eggs: Eggs are laid on damp surfaces just above the waterline and can survive dry conditions for months
  Larvae: Larvae develop in stagnant water within five to ten days
  Pupae: Pupae transition to adults in two to three days
  Adult: Adults typically live for two to four weeks depending on environmental conditions
• Description:
  Small, dark-bodied mosquitoes with white or silvery banding on the legs and thorax Wings are clear and unscaled Unlike most mosquitoes, Aedes species are active during daylight hours, especially at dawn and dusk Females require blood meals for egg production and are known for fast, persistent biting behaviour
• Behaviour:
  Strong preference for feeding on humans Daytime activity with peak biting in early morning and late afternoon Limited flight range, typically under two hundred metres, but spread is aided by human transport Eggs can remain viable in dry conditions, enabling rapid population resurgence after rainfall
• Habitat:

  Aedes mosquitoes are found globally across tropical, subtropical, and increasingly temperate regions They breed in artificial containers such as tyres, buckets, flower pots, gutters, and water tanks Thriving in urban and peri-urban environments, they rest in shaded, humid areas indoors and outdoors, often close to human dwellings