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Common Mosquitoes around Sutter and Yuba Counties
The Culex tarsalis mosquito is a standing water mosquito that lays eggs in groups, called rafts. Its breeding habitat includes ditches, rice fields, wetlands, and duck clubs. This mosquito can transmit the virus that causes encephalitis in humans and horses, including the West Nile Virus. Blood meals are taken generally at dawn and dusk. It readily bites humans, but prefers to feed on birds.
The Anopheles freeborni mosquito is another standing water mosquito. It lays its eggs directly on the surfaces of stagnant or still water where they hatch into larvae. Breeding sites include ditches, rice fields, rain pools, wetlands and duck clubs. This mosquito can transmit the parasite that causes malaria in humans. Bloodmeals are taken primarily at dawn and dusk. Midway through winter, this mosquito often becomes bothersome as it attempts to obtain a bloodmeal for survival until spring when it can lay its eggs.
The Ochlerotatus sierrensis mosquito is a flood water mosquito. The female lays her eggs individually in rot holes that develop in some trees. As spring rains or irrigation water fills the treehole, the eggs are stimulated to hatch. Adults do not fly far from source where they hatch. This mosquito can transmit the canine heartworm parasite and is a severe pest of humans. Bloodmeals are taken anytime of day, even in full sun.
The Ochlerotatus melanimon mosquito is a floodwater mosquito. The female lays eggs singly on damp or muddy soil. Eggs may lay dormant for long periods of time until stimulated to hatch when flooded. This mosquito can become involved in the encephalitis transmission cycle. It is commonly found in irrigated pastures, intermittently flooded duck club ponds, and other sources that periodically or occasionally flood. Bloodmeals are taken any time of day, even in full sun.
The Culex pipiens mosquito is a standing water mosquito that lays its eggs in rafts. It prefers to breed in foul water and water found in containers. Some common places it breeds include catch basins and other sumps, tires, roof gutters, uncovered boats, ornamental ponds and fountains, neglected swimming pools and hot tubs, barrels and other artificial containers. Although it prefers birds, it commonly enters houses in search of a bloodmeal, often disturbing people as they sleep. The Culex pipiens is another competent WNV vector.
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