Aedes sollicitans
Encyclopedia
Aedes sollicitans, the eastern saltmarsh mosquito (also known as Ochlerotatus sollicitans), is a species of mosquito
native to the eastern seaboard
of the United States and Canada as well as the entire Gulf coast and is also present in the Bahamas and Greater Antilles
. While primarily found in coastal areas within a few miles of the coast, it is occasionally found inland in areas with saline pools, the species was reported as far west as Arizona. The species is a prime vector for Eastern equine encephalitis, Venezuelan equine encephalitis and dog heartworm
.
Aedes sollicitans has a conspicuous band of white scales around the central area of the proboscis
and the anterior portion of the hind tarsomeres upon which there is also band a band of yellow scales in the middle. The abdomen has white basal bands and is divided by a medial longitudinal stripe. The thorax
is white on the sides and the top is brown, yellow, golden and white.
The female Aedes sollicitans lays her eggs on the dried out substrate of salt pannes
, depressions within salt marshes which dry out between periods of very high tide (spring tide). The eggs hatch upon the panne filling at the next spring tide in 4–5 days with optimal conditions.
A. sollicitans tends to stay within 5 miles of the coast on average all the range can be greater dependent upon a number of factors such as wind speed and duration. It tends to feed most actively at twilight but is an opportunistic feeder which will feed a host species that enters its area in daytime. The female requires one blood meal for each egg batch with the primary host species being mammals, and birds as a secondary host.
In the south the peak amount of adults occurs in the spring and fall, and in the northern portion of its range peak adult population occurs in the summer. The last batches of eggs laid in the fall remain in diapause
until the spring.
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
native to the eastern seaboard
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
of the United States and Canada as well as the entire Gulf coast and is also present in the Bahamas and Greater Antilles
Greater Antilles
The Greater Antilles are one of three island groups in the Caribbean. Comprising Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico, the Greater Antilles constitute almost 90% of the land mass of the entire West Indies.-Greater Antilles in context :The islands of the Caribbean Sea, collectively known as...
. While primarily found in coastal areas within a few miles of the coast, it is occasionally found inland in areas with saline pools, the species was reported as far west as Arizona. The species is a prime vector for Eastern equine encephalitis, Venezuelan equine encephalitis and dog heartworm
Heartworm
Heartworm is a parasitic roundworm that is spread from host to host through the bites of mosquitoes. The heartworm is a type of filaria, a small thread-like worm. The definitive host is the dog but it can also infect cats, wolves, coyotes, foxes and other animals, such as ferrets, sea lions and...
.
Aedes sollicitans has a conspicuous band of white scales around the central area of the proboscis
Proboscis
A proboscis is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In simpler terms, a proboscis is the straw-like mouth found in several varieties of species.-Etymology:...
and the anterior portion of the hind tarsomeres upon which there is also band a band of yellow scales in the middle. The abdomen has white basal bands and is divided by a medial longitudinal stripe. The thorax
Thorax (insect anatomy)
The thorax is the mid section of the insect body. It holds the head, legs, wings and abdomen. It is also called mesosoma in other arthropods....
is white on the sides and the top is brown, yellow, golden and white.
The female Aedes sollicitans lays her eggs on the dried out substrate of salt pannes
Salt pannes and pools
Salt pannes and pools are water retaining depressions located within salt and brackish marshes. Pools tend to retain water during the summer months between high tides, whereas pannes generally do not. Salt pannes generally start when a mat of organic debris known as wrack, is deposited upon...
, depressions within salt marshes which dry out between periods of very high tide (spring tide). The eggs hatch upon the panne filling at the next spring tide in 4–5 days with optimal conditions.
A. sollicitans tends to stay within 5 miles of the coast on average all the range can be greater dependent upon a number of factors such as wind speed and duration. It tends to feed most actively at twilight but is an opportunistic feeder which will feed a host species that enters its area in daytime. The female requires one blood meal for each egg batch with the primary host species being mammals, and birds as a secondary host.
In the south the peak amount of adults occurs in the spring and fall, and in the northern portion of its range peak adult population occurs in the summer. The last batches of eggs laid in the fall remain in diapause
Diapause
Diapause is the delay in development in response to regularly and recurring periods of adverse environmental conditions. It is considered to be a physiological state of dormancy with very specific initiating and inhibiting conditions...
until the spring.