*14.1.2 Culex mosquitos*

About 550 species of *Culex* have been described, and most of them are from tropical and subtropical regions. Some species are important as vectors of bancroftian filariasis and arboviral diseases, such as Japanese encephalitis. Rafts of 100 or more eggs are laid on the water surfaces that remain afloat until hatching occurs 2–3 days later. These breed in a large variety of stagnant waters, ranging from artificial containers to large bodies of permanent water. The most common species, *Culex quinquefasciatus* Say (**Figure 9**), is a major nuisance and vector of bancroftian filariasis, which breeds especially in water polluted with organic material, such as refuse and excreta or rotting plants, pit latrines, blocked drains, canals and abandoned wells. It is markedly a home species, and females bite to people and animals all over the night outdoors and indoors. For the period of day, these are not active and frequently found hidden in dark corners of rooms, and as well rest outdoors in holes within trees and on vegetation areas. The vector of Japanese encephalitis, *Culex tritaeniorhynchus* Giles (**Figure 10**), prefers cleaner water and is most commonly found in irrigated rice fields and ditches [73].

can spread dengue as well (**Figure 12**). In certain regions *Aedes* species also spread

It includes 15 species classified in subgenera *Mansonia* Blanchard and mosquitos are mostly found in marshy areas in tropical countries. These mosquitoes can be very alike to common mosquitoes in genus *Aedes*, however vary by having the last segment of abdomen much broad, rather than markedly narrower as in *Aedes*, and through having most of scales very broad on the top of wings, rather than long and narrow as these are on *Aedes*. These may as well be differentiated from several other mosquitos genera through having a tuft of bristles (post-spiracular bristles) on body plate instantly

filariasis [74–77].

**Figure 11.** Aedes aegypti*.*

**Figure 12.** Aedes albopictus*.*

**29**

**Figure 10.**

Culex tritaeniorhynchus*.*

*Typical Flies: Natural History, Lifestyle and Diversity of Diptera*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91391*

*14.1.4 Mansonia mosquitos*

#### *14.1.3 Aedes mosquitos*

Mosquitoes *Aedes* occur around the world and these can cause a severe biting annoyance to people and animals, both in cooler climates and in the tropics. In tropical countries, yellow fever mosquito, *Aedes aegypti* (**Figure 11**) is a key vector of yellow fever, dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever and other viral diseases. A thoroughly related species, Asian tiger mosquito *Aedes albopictus* (Skuse),

**Figure 9.** Culex quinquefasciatus*.*

*Typical Flies: Natural History, Lifestyle and Diversity of Diptera DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91391*

**Figure 10.** Culex tritaeniorhynchus*.*

lateral floats and laid singly on the water surface where these float until hatching that occurs in 2–3 days. The larvae float in a horizontal position at the surface, where these feed on small organic particles. In the tropics, the duration of development from egg to adult is 11–13 days. Some species feed mostly on animals, while others feed almost entirely on humans. Mosquitos *Anopheles*, are active between sunset and sunrise, and there are variations also in their liking for biting outdoors or indoors. The anophelines, which come in houses to feed habitually rest for a few hours indoors after feeding, then can leave for outdoor protected resting sites like burrows, vegetations, crevices and cracks in ground, trees or in caves and undersides of bridges. On the other hand, they may stay for the whole period indoors required to digest blood-meal and produce eggs. Once the eggs are fully developed the gravid mosquitos leave their resting sites and try to find a suitable breeding

About 550 species of *Culex* have been described, and most of them are from

bancroftian filariasis and arboviral diseases, such as Japanese encephalitis. Rafts of 100 or more eggs are laid on the water surfaces that remain afloat until hatching occurs 2–3 days later. These breed in a large variety of stagnant waters, ranging from artificial containers to large bodies of permanent water. The most common species, *Culex quinquefasciatus* Say (**Figure 9**), is a major nuisance and vector of bancroftian filariasis, which breeds especially in water polluted with organic material, such as refuse and excreta or rotting plants, pit latrines, blocked drains, canals and abandoned wells. It is markedly a home species, and females bite to people and animals all over the night outdoors and indoors. For the period of day, these are not active and frequently found hidden in dark corners of rooms, and as well rest outdoors in holes within trees and on vegetation areas. The vector of Japanese encephalitis, *Culex tritaeniorhynchus* Giles (**Figure 10**), prefers cleaner water and is

Mosquitoes *Aedes* occur around the world and these can cause a severe biting annoyance to people and animals, both in cooler climates and in the tropics. In tropical countries, yellow fever mosquito, *Aedes aegypti* (**Figure 11**) is a key vector of yellow fever, dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever and other viral diseases. A thoroughly related species, Asian tiger mosquito *Aedes albopictus* (Skuse),

tropical and subtropical regions. Some species are important as vectors of

most commonly found in irrigated rice fields and ditches [73].

habitat [69–72].

*14.1.2 Culex mosquitos*

*Life Cycle and Development of Diptera*

*14.1.3 Aedes mosquitos*

**Figure 9.**

**28**

Culex quinquefasciatus*.*

**Figure 11.** Aedes aegypti*.*

can spread dengue as well (**Figure 12**). In certain regions *Aedes* species also spread filariasis [74–77].
