House Mosquito

Afrikaans name: Huis Muskiet

House Mosquito

Photo © Steven Herbert

Culex pipiens

Here is a little insect that most of us would just love to get rid of! It is the House Mosquito. It also goes by the name of Common House Mosquito or Northern House Mosquito.

This species can be found over most of Africa, Europe and Asia. It also occurs in the northern USA. It is one of the most common species of mosquito to be found in human habitation.

I don't know if you have ever stopped to notice but some have bushy antennae - these are the males. It is the female of the species that has a taste for blood. Males, ad females, eat sugary food substances such as nectar.

The House Mosquito lays its eggs in still or stagnant water. When the eggs hatch the wrigglers emerge and these feed off micro-organisms in the water. In just over a week they go into the pupa stage followed by the adult form.

Although the House Mosquito doesn't carry malaria it may carry West Nile Virus of Encephalitis.

References and further reading

Wikipedia - Culex pipiens

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