Aedes dorsalis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Aedes dorsalis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Culicidae |
| Genus: | Aedes |
| Subgenus: | Ochlerotatus |
| Species: | A. dorsalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Aedes dorsalis (Meigen, 1830) | |
Aedes dorsalis is a mosquito species in the genus Aedes, subgenus Ochlerotatus. Commonly known as the summer salt marsh mosquito, this medium-sized mosquito is distinguishable by its white-scaled abdomen and legs with white rings. It has a broad distribution across the Nearctic and Palearctic regions, including North America and parts of Europe and Asia, where it inhabits flood-prone and saline areas. While it is an aggressive biter and a nuisance pest, its primary medical significance stems from its role as a vector for California encephalitis virus. Unlike some well-known Aedes species, such as Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus, it is not a significant vector for major diseases like dengue, Zika, or chikungunya.
Aedes dorsalis adults are medium-sized mosquitoes with distinctive markings. The proboscis is dark with pale scales at the base, and the thorax features white hypostigmal and postprocoxal scales, with the scutum displaying two dark stripes. The wings have a mix of white and black scales, creating distinct patterns. The legs, especially the hind tarsi, bear white rings at the base and apex of each segment. The abdomen is almost entirely covered with white scales, giving it a striking appearance. Larvae are characterized by specific setae on the antenna and head, rounded comb scales, and an incomplete saddle on segment X.[1]
Distribution
Aedes dorsalis is widely distributed across the Nearctic and Palearctic regions. In North America, its range extends from Canada to Mexico, with notable populations in California coastal marshes and inland saline areas. In Europe and Asia, it occurs in countries including Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[2] It thrives in flood-prone, grassy areas and is uniquely adapted to tolerate saline environments, making it common in both freshwater and saltwater habitats such as coastal marshes and inland saline ponds.[1]