Some species of the genus Aedes are found in Alabama.
Mosquitoes are insects members of the Culicidae family, divided into 41 genera and more than 3,500 species, some of which are found in Alabama. Culiseta melanura, Aedes vexans, Coquillettidia perturbans, Culex erraticus, Anopheles crucians and Uranotaenia sapphirina are some of the common mosquito species found in Alabama. Most mosquitoes are vectors to viruses and other pathogens that can affect humans and animals.
Culiseta
The genus Culiseta are mosquitoes that feed on the blood of birds and resemble the genus Culex. Found in forests of central Alabama, the species Culiseta melanura (black-tailed mosquito) transmits the Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus to birds only. However, other species of mosquitoes that feed on both birds and mammals carry the virus from infected birds to mammals, including humans. High fever, headaches and muscle pain are some symptoms of this brain infectious disease in humans.
Aedes
With more than 700 species, Aedes is a numerous genus of mosquitoes, which often show black and white patterns on their bodies. In Alabama, common species include Aedes vexans, which transmit the Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus to mammals; and Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito), which works as a vector to many pathogens, such as the West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, the yellow fever virus and the dengue fever.
Coquillettidia
Coquillettidia perturbans is another species of mosquito that acts as a bridge vector between birds and mammals, in the transmission of the encephalomyelitis virus. Members of the genus Coquillettidia are often yellowish to light-brown and inhabit wetlands. Although the genus has several species, C. perturbans is the only one living in Alabama.
Anopheles
Mosquitoes Anopheles are famous for carrying the pathogen Plasmodium, which causes malaria. However, the disease is controlled in most parts of the world, except Africa. Within the genus Anopheles, the species A. crucians and A. quadrimaculatus live in Alabama. Like all other mosquito species, members of the genus Anopheles go through metamorphosis before reaching the adult stage. Females can lay up to 200 eggs each time and about two weeks later, the youngsters leave the water. Adults live for up to a month.
Culex and Uranotaenia
Culex erraticus is one of the most abundant mosquitoes in Alabama, especially nearby the Tuskegee National Forest. Other Alabama species include C. peccator, C. territans, C. salinarius, C. nigripalpus, C. pipiens and Uranotaenia sapphirina, which has a distinctive iridescent blue stripe on the back. Uranotaenia feeds on various animals species, often frogs and reptiles, while some species of the genus Culex feed also on humans.
Tags: birds mammals, encephalomyelitis virus, found Alabama, Aedes vexans, Alabama species