Some quick numbers:
- Number of mosquito species worldwide: Estimates range from 2,700 to over 3,500
- Number of mosquito species observed in Virginia: Approximately 50
- Number of mosquito species considered common in Virginia: Approximately 30
Some of the more common or medically important species (7) are:
Aedes albopictus (1, 3, 4)
Aedes triseriatus (1, 4) Aedes vexans (1, 3) Anopheles crucians Anopheles punctipennis (3) Anopheles quadrimaculatus (3, 6) Coquillettidia perturbans (3) |
Culex erraticus (1)
Culex pipiens (1, 5) Culex restuans (1, 3) Culex salinarius (1, 3) Culex territans (1) Culiseta melanura (2) Ochlerotatus atlanticus |
Ochlerotatus c. canadensis (3)
Ochlerotatus infirmatus Ochlerotatus japonicus Ochlerotatus sollicitans (3) Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus Ochlerotatus triseriatus (3) Orthopodomyia signifera |
Psorophora ciliata
Psorophora columbiae Psorophora ferox (3) Psorophora howardii Toxorhynchites rutilus septentrionalis Uranotaenia sapphirina (3) |
Notes:
(1) This species is an important vector of West Nile virus.
(2) This species is indirectly involved in transmission of Eastern equine encephalitis, and may be a direct vector. Read more here.
(3) This species is a known or suspected bridge vector of Eastern equine encephalitis.
(4) This species is an important vector of La Crosse encephalitis.
(5) This species is an important vector of St. Louis encephalitis.
(6) This species is an important vector of malaria.
(7) For a more complete annotated list of mosquitoes found in Virginia, see here.
(1) This species is an important vector of West Nile virus.
(2) This species is indirectly involved in transmission of Eastern equine encephalitis, and may be a direct vector. Read more here.
(3) This species is a known or suspected bridge vector of Eastern equine encephalitis.
(4) This species is an important vector of La Crosse encephalitis.
(5) This species is an important vector of St. Louis encephalitis.
(6) This species is an important vector of malaria.
(7) For a more complete annotated list of mosquitoes found in Virginia, see here.