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Culex pipiens (Linnaeus, 1758) Commonly known as the “Common house mosquito”
Body length 6mm
Family: Culicidae. Mosquito
This mosquito is aptly named as it is frequently found in houses. Culex pipiens can also make outdoor activities unpleasant for most of us. The male and female both will feed from the nectar of flowers and other sugary food sources needed for energy and importantly to build up body fats. Unfortunately for us humans, the female also needs vertebrae blood for her eggs to develop. The Female C. pipiens will also take blood from various animals especially birds. The female will pierce the skin by biting, then will suck the blood up through her long proboscis.
Culex pipiens species do not hibernate over the winter months, unlike most other mosquito species. Depending on location, sunlight, temperature and time of day, (especially an hour or two before sunset) are all factors that increases the mosquito’s activity.
In the spring when temperatures stabilise around 10 Celsius, the mosquitos breed more frequently, after copulation the female will lay her eggs in water. Any given man-made water containers are taken advantage of as well as natural slow and still waters.
The larvae are known as “wrigglers” because of their typical wriggle movement in water. The larvae will reach pupal stage in around seven to ten days, depending on circumstances related mainly to temperature and food provisions. Also, the growth rate can be dependant on larval density and conditions of the water environment. In the pupal stage, the organisms feed less and spend more time near the surface of the water, taking in air from the exposed surface. About one to three days in the pupal stage, the adult mosquito eventually develops and takes flight.
Habitat: natural habitats include, marsh areas, streams, manure piles, pools, ideally stagnant pools containing various organic matter created by humans and livestock. C. pipiens thrives in most wet, humid and temperate countries, including most tropical regions across the world. Can be found on most continents, Europe, North and South America, large areas of Asia and the Northern regions Africa.
In regions exposed to longer spells of cold weather, they are able to survive the winter months by taking shelter in most man-made buildings including sheds, basements and drains. Natural caves are also ideal conditions for C. pipiens to shelter from the extreme weather conditions.
Mosquito’s pass on many diseases throughout the world and Culex pipiens has been one of the most rampant species to pass on diseases such as “Malaria”, “St.Louis encephalitis” and “filarial worms”. This species is also a vector of “West Nile virus” (first diagnosed in Europe in the 1960’s). “Rift Valley fever” (mainly in Africa) and “Japan encephalitis” has been widespread in Eastern Asia.
Female feeding from my arm, the male content to feed from the nectar of flowers.
Read MoreBody length 6mm
Family: Culicidae. Mosquito
This mosquito is aptly named as it is frequently found in houses. Culex pipiens can also make outdoor activities unpleasant for most of us. The male and female both will feed from the nectar of flowers and other sugary food sources needed for energy and importantly to build up body fats. Unfortunately for us humans, the female also needs vertebrae blood for her eggs to develop. The Female C. pipiens will also take blood from various animals especially birds. The female will pierce the skin by biting, then will suck the blood up through her long proboscis.
Culex pipiens species do not hibernate over the winter months, unlike most other mosquito species. Depending on location, sunlight, temperature and time of day, (especially an hour or two before sunset) are all factors that increases the mosquito’s activity.
In the spring when temperatures stabilise around 10 Celsius, the mosquitos breed more frequently, after copulation the female will lay her eggs in water. Any given man-made water containers are taken advantage of as well as natural slow and still waters.
The larvae are known as “wrigglers” because of their typical wriggle movement in water. The larvae will reach pupal stage in around seven to ten days, depending on circumstances related mainly to temperature and food provisions. Also, the growth rate can be dependant on larval density and conditions of the water environment. In the pupal stage, the organisms feed less and spend more time near the surface of the water, taking in air from the exposed surface. About one to three days in the pupal stage, the adult mosquito eventually develops and takes flight.
Habitat: natural habitats include, marsh areas, streams, manure piles, pools, ideally stagnant pools containing various organic matter created by humans and livestock. C. pipiens thrives in most wet, humid and temperate countries, including most tropical regions across the world. Can be found on most continents, Europe, North and South America, large areas of Asia and the Northern regions Africa.
In regions exposed to longer spells of cold weather, they are able to survive the winter months by taking shelter in most man-made buildings including sheds, basements and drains. Natural caves are also ideal conditions for C. pipiens to shelter from the extreme weather conditions.
Mosquito’s pass on many diseases throughout the world and Culex pipiens has been one of the most rampant species to pass on diseases such as “Malaria”, “St.Louis encephalitis” and “filarial worms”. This species is also a vector of “West Nile virus” (first diagnosed in Europe in the 1960’s). “Rift Valley fever” (mainly in Africa) and “Japan encephalitis” has been widespread in Eastern Asia.
Female feeding from my arm, the male content to feed from the nectar of flowers.
