
CALIFORNIA SALT MARSH
Ochlerotatus squamiger is commonly referred to as the California Salt Marsh Mosquito because it breeds exclusively in the salt and brackish marshes along the California coast. It is medium to large in size with a grayish or black coloration...

COOL WEATHER
Culiseta incidens is commonly referred to as the “cool weather mosquito.” This species seldom breeds during the summer except in coastal areas. Adults are large and dark brown to black in color. The tip of the abdomen is blunt, with white...

ENCEPHALITIS
Culex tarsalis is commonly referred to as the “encephalitis mosquito” because it is the primary vector of encephalitis viruses in the western United States. Cx. tarsalis is a dark bodied, medium sized mosquito with a predominant white...

FOUL WATER
Culex stigmatosoma is commonly referred to as a “foul water” mosquito because of its association with polluted water.
Cx. stigmatosoma is a dark bodied, medium sized mosquito with a prominent white band on it’s proboscis...

HOUSE
These two subspecies are so similar that they will be treated here as one. They are commonly referred to as “house” mosquitoes because of their often-close relationship with humans and their habit of entering into houses and sometimes...

OCHLEROTATUS MELANIMON
The female Ochlerotatus melanimon is a medium sized mosquito that varies in color from brown to tan. The abdomen is predominantly dark scaled transversed by a medium longitudinal whitish stripe and whitish scales that form narrow bands...

PALE MARSH
Ochlerotatus dorsalis is commonly referred to as the “pale marsh mosquito” because of its whitish-gray appearance. This species breeds in coastal salt marshes, brackish waters of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta...

PASTURE
Ochlerotatus nigromaculis is commonly referred to as the “pasture mosquito” in California because of its prevalence in irrigated pastures. It is a medium sized mosquito having blackish to brown coloration. Individual mosquitoes...

WESTERN TREE HOLE
The female Ochlerotatus sierrensis is commonly referred to as the “tree hole” mosquito because the immature stages occur most often in water collected in the rot holes in trees. The adults are easily recognized by their small size...

WINTER
Culiseta inornata is commonly referred to as the “winter mosquito” and seldom breeds during warm weather. Adults are large, light brown in color and appear to have wings without scales, which makes them easily distinguishable from other...