Common Mosquito Species

The following species are the common species in the Cowlitz area

Aedes - This mosquito lay their eggs in wet /moist substrate or waterlogged soil in ground depressions  subject to temporary floods. The eggs lay dormant until they are flooded and conditions are favorable for hatching. The following are the different species of the Aedes mosquito:

  • increptitus
  • vexans
  • sticticus
  • sierrensis
click to enlarge
Click to enlarge

Culex - This mosquito breed in various types of stagnant water. Preferred habitats are rainwater barrels, catch basins, storm drains, and septic tanks, which are rich in organic material. Eggs are laid in raft shaped batches on the surface of the water. The following are the different species of the Culex mosquitoes:

  • pipiens
  • tarsalis
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Click to enlarge

Coquillettidia perturbans - This mosquito lays eggs in rafts on the surface of water with a very dense emergent vegetation. The respiratory siphon of larval and pupal stages are shaped to pierce the root of aquatic plants for oxygen. This allows them to not have to use the surface of the water to breathe making them harder to find in the field and very hard to control. Although mainly associated with cattails, larvae and pupae are found in association with the roots or submersed stems of many different aquatic plants, including arrowhead, pickerelweed, water lily, rushes, reeds, sedges, and water arum. All of these host plants are rooted in thick humus-rich hydric soils.

Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge

Culiseta - This mosquito are found in ground water such as bogs, marshes, ponds, stream ditches, and rock pools. The following are the different species of the Culiseta mosquito:

  • inornata
  • incidens
  • particeps
  • impatiens
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Anopheles - This mosquito can be found in a wide variety of habitats. They prefer open-water pool with little vegetation, but has adapted to other habitats. The following are the different species of the Anopheles mosquito:

  • freeborni
  • punctipennis
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge