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FOUL WATER
MOSQUITO
GENERAL INFORMATION |
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The
Foul
Water Mosquito (Culex
stigmatosoma) is one of 53 types of mosquitoes that occur in
California.
Culex
stigmatosoma is known as the Banded Foul Water Mosquito due to its
association with polluted water and can be found in most California
counties.
The Banded Foul Water Mosquito
is a dark bodied, medium-sized mosquito with a prominent white band on its
proboscis (beak) and white bands on the tarsi (feet). It is further
characterized by black scales which form "o" spots on the
underside of the blunt-tipped abdomen. This mosquito most
closely resembles
Culex
tarsalis but lacks the white stripe on the hind legs.
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Adult Daily Activity:
These mosquitoes may live for two or three weeks in the
summer, but under cooler conditions the females may live for several
months. In areas of moderate climate, adults and larvae may be found
in every month of the year, but in areas with cold winters this species
usually passes the winter as hibernating females in protected natural or
artificial shelters such as cellars, outbuildings, wood piles, caves,
culverts, etc. Mating may take place in conjunction with the male
swarms.
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Adult Flight Range:
This species is capable of traveling 1-2 miles to seek a host, but is most commonly found near its aquatic
habitat. The maximum recorded flight range is less than ten miles.
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Adult Feeding:
Female foul water mosquitoes seem to prefer feeding on
birds, but on occasion will feed on livestock and humans.
Males feed on nectar and plant juices. Females may also feed on plant
juices, but usually must have a blood meal in order to develop their eggs.
Nighttime is the peak feeding time for females of this species.
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Eggs and Larvae:
An adult
female lays about 150-200 eggs in clusters called rafts, which float on the
surface of the water until they hatch in about one to two days. The
female usually prefers laying eggs in standing, polluted water such as
sewage, street drainage, industrial wastes, dairy ponds, log ponds and
backyard sources such as unused swimming pools, fouled ornamental ponds,
cooler drain-water, and water in containers. A wide variety of other
water sources may also be infested with the aquatic stages of this common
mosquito.
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DISEASES TRANSMITTED
Foul
Water Mosquitoes do occasionally create domestic, industrial and
agricultural pest problems when they are present in large numbers. Although Western Equine
Encephalitis and St. Louis
Encephalitis has been isolated from natural populations of these
mosquitoes, their reluctance to bite humans reduces their efficiency as
disease carriers. This species has recently been identified as a carrier
of West Nile Virus,
a mosquito-borne disease that is rapidly spreading across the United States.
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FOUL WATER
MOSQUITO LIFE
CYCLE |
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Foul Water Mosquitoes have four life stages: egg, larva,
pupa, and adult. The immature stages need standing water to complete
their life cycle.
After an adult female lays her eggs they hatch into
larvae (wrigglers), which feed on small organic particles and microorganisms
in the water. Feeding occurs when they hang from the water's surface
by the tip of their tail (siphon) or by browsing along the bottom of their
habitat. Because they are air breathing organisms they must return to
the water's surface to breathe. About one to two weeks are required for larval
development. At the end of the larval stage, the mosquito molts and
becomes the aquatic pupa (tumbler). The pupa is active only if
disturbed, for this is the resting stage where the larval form is
transformed into the adult. This takes about two days during which
time feeding does not occur. When the transformation is completed,
the new adult splits the pupal skin and emerges. Under optimum
conditions, development from egg to adult takes about a week.
However, all mosquito developmental times are dependent on the temperature
and nutrients of the water in which they mature.
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CONTROL METHODS |
| Where possible, the best approach is to prevent mosquitoes from
breeding by eliminating or modifying breeding sites. This can
be accomplished best by eliminating containers which are capable of
holding water. Where breeding sites exist in standing or
slow-moving water, corrective action to permanently eliminate them
by such means as filling, pumping, ditching or draining is
recommended. Close coordination with your local mosquito
abatement district and environmental regulatory authorities is
recommended. |
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RESIDENTS SHOULD |
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If you have a mosquito problem call your
local Mosquito Abatement District to identify the problem. That
is the first step in identifying what type of mosquito is being
dealt with. |
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Use insect repellents if it is necessary
when in an area where this mosquito is found. Read and follow
the directions carefully! |
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PERSONAL PROTECTION FROM MOSQUITOES |
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FIRST AID FOR MOSQUITO BITES |
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q
Reduce
outdoor activities during peak feeding periods. |
q
Wash
bite with soap and water. |
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q
Wear
long pants and long sleeved shirts. |
q
Apply
anti-itch medication. |
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q
Apply
insect repellent. |
q
Apply
cold cloth for swelling. |
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q
Watch
for secondary infections. |
For more information on
Foul Water
Mosquitoes contact:
Napa County Mosquito Abatement District
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