Common Malaria Mosquito
Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, 1824
Common Malaria Mosquito: https://www.marylandbiodiversity.org/species/19687
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2 Records

GAALWAFRCLMOHOBABCHACEPGAACVCHSMKEQACNTADOWISOWO

Status

The distinct black spots on the forewings are diagnostic for this species group. The wings of these species do not have any pale scales, but do have dark scales arranged into four dark spots which give this group its specific epithet. Identifying members of the group to species is a lot more technical, usually involving counting individual hairs on distinct parts of the thorax and head. Most should be placed as A. quadrimaculatus complex.

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Source: Wikipedia

Anopheles quadrimaculatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Culicidae
Genus: Anopheles
Subgenus: Anopheles
Species:
A. quadrimaculatus
Binomial name
Anopheles quadrimaculatus
Say, 1824

Anopheles quadrimaculatus, also known as the common malaria mosquito,[citation needed] is a species of mosquito mainly found in the eastern United States. The species is a main vector of malaria.[1]

Distribution

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The common malaria mosquito is common across the southeastern United States, especially along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.[2]

Life cycle

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Mosquitoes lay their eggs on still bodies of freshwater, where they float on the surface. Larvae take 2 to 3 days to hatch; these larvae lack breathing siphons, and so they rest parallel to the surface to breathe. The larvae take between 5 days and 2 weeks to mature depending on the environmental conditions. Adult mosquitoes typically live for approximately 2 weeks.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, 1824 | Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (WRBU)". www.wrbu.si.edu. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  2. ^ "Exploring Malaria-Carrying Mosquitoes". www.wrbu.si.edu. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
  3. ^ "Exploring Malaria-Carrying Mosquitoes". www.wrbu.si.edu. Retrieved February 19, 2026.


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