23 Mosquito Species of Contra Costa County
Genus, species | Common Name | Larval habitat | Biting Behavior | Time of day | Peak Season | Flight range | Medical Importance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anopheles franciscanus | none | shallow sunlit pools with algae | large mammals | dusk and dawn | summer | < 1 mile | occasional pest |
Anopheles freeborni | Western malaria mosquito | rice fields; clear sunlit seepages with algae | large mammals, humans | dusk and dawn | summer | 10 miles | malaria vector |
Anopheles occidentalis | none | ponds, creeks, seepages | large mammals | dusk and dawn | summer | unknown | no known significance |
Anopheles punctipennis | Woodland malaria mosquito | cool shaded grassy pools, streams, creeks | large mammals, humans | dusk and dawn | summer | > 1 mile | malaria vector |
Aedes dorsalis | none | Coastal salt marshes, inland alkaline areas | large mammals, humans | day and night | summer, fall | < 10 miles | Secondary CE & WEE vector, localized pest |
Aedes melanimon | none | Duck club ponds, irrigated pastures and fields | large mammals, humans | dusk and day | summer, fall | > 10 miles | Primary CE vector, secondary WEE vector, possible WNV vector, major pest |
Aedes nigromaculis | Irrigated pasture mosquito | Irrigated pastures and alfalfa fields | large mammals, humans | dusk and day | summer | < 20 miles | Localized pest |
Aedes sierrensis | Western tree hole mosquito | Tree holes, tires and other man-made containers | small mammals, humans | dusk and day | spring | < 1 mile | Dog heartworm vector, localized pest |
Aedes squamiger | California salt marsh mosquito | Coastal salt marshes | humans | dusk and day | winter | 10-20 miles | Localized pest, possible CE vector |
Aedes washinoi | none | Rainwater pools | large mammals, humans | dusk and day | spring | < 1 mile | Localized pest, possible CE vector |
Aedes vexans | Inland floodwater mosquito | Irrigated pastures, riparian pools | large mammals, humans | day and dusk | summer, fall | > 10 miles | Localized pest, secondary dog heartworm vector, possible WNV vector |
Culex erythrothorax | Tule mosquito | Ponds, lakes, marshes with tules and cattails | birds, humans | dusk and day (shaded areas) | spring, summer, fall | < 1 mile | Localized pest, secondary WNV vector |
Culex apicalis | none | Creeks, woodland pools | birds, reptiles | unknown | rare | unknown | no known significance |
Culex boharti | none | Creeks and streams | frogs, toads | unknown | rare | unknown | no known significance |
Culex pipiens | Northern house mosquito | Polluted water (sewer plants, abandoned pools, catch basins etc) | birds, humans | night | spring, summer, fall | < 1 mile | Primary WNV vector, secondary SLE vector, localized nuisance |
Culex stigmatosoma | Banded foul water mosquito | Polluted water (sewer plants, dairy sumps etc) | birds | night | rare | < 10 miles | Secondary WNV and SLE vector |
Culex tarsalis | Western encephalitis mosquito | Widespread in clear water (agricultural areas, untended swimming pools, creeks etc) | birds, mammals, humans | night | summer, fall | 3-15 miles | Primary WNV, WEE and SLE vector |
Culex territans | none | Creeks, woodland pools | reptiles, amphibians | dawn and dusk | rare | unknown | no known significance |
Culex thriambus | none | Rock pools, ponds, hoof prints | birds | unknown | rare | unknown | no known significance |
Culiseta incidens | Cool weather mosquito | Widespread in natural or manmade sources | large mammals, humans | night | spring, summer, fall | < 5 miles | Localized pest, possible secondary WNV vector |
Culiseta inornata | Large winter mosquito | Widespread in natural or manmade sources, marshes | large mammals, humans | night | winter | < 5 miles | Localized pest, possible secondary WNV vector |
Culiseta particeps | none | Creeks, streams, marshes | unknown (probably large mammals) | night | spring | unknown | no known significance |
Orthopodomyia signifera | none | Tree holes | birds | unknown | rare | unknown | no known significance |