Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Psorophora ferox

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Kingdom
  
Class
  
Family
  
Culicidae

Rank
  
Species

Phylum
  
Order
  
Diptera

Genus
  
Psorophora ferox a mosquito Psorophora ferox

Similar
  
Psorophora, Coquillettidia, Aedes sollicitans, Anopheles punctipennis, Aedes vexans

Psorophora ferox is a medium-sized mosquito native to much of the New World. It inhabits wet woodlands, laying its eggs in temporary pools filled with rainwater. Larvae develop during summer in North America. They are aggressive feeders and give painful bites. The mosquito is reported to be active during both day and night.

Contents

Psorophora ferox Psorophora ferox Psorophora ferox BugGuideNet

Description

Psorophora ferox mosquito Psorophora ferox BugGuideNet

The adult's thorax is covered in dark scales with flecks of lighter yellowish scales. The abdomen is mostly dark-scaled dorsally, and yellowish ventrally. These yellowish scales form apicolateral triangular patches. The dorsum reflects a purple color. The legs are largely dark with white scales on the last two tarsal segments. The female's wings range from around 3.7-4.0 mm. The proboscis is long and dark.

Range

Psorophora ferox Biting Mosquito Psorophora ferox BugGuideNet

Ps. ferox occurs throughout the eastern United States and southeastern Canada, south through Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

Medical Significance

Psorophora ferox a mosquito Psorophora ferox

Ps. ferox carries a number of diseases, although it is not considered a major vector. It is known to carry Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE). It was found to be a minor vector of West Nile Virus (WNV) in New York. Several viruses have been found in this mosquito in the Amazon, such as Una virus and Ilheus virus. In Central and South America, the mosquito carries the larvae of Dermatobia hominis, the human bot fly, a parasite whose larvae develop inside the flesh of a mammal host.

Psorophora ferox Psorophora ferox

Psorophora ferox httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

References

Psorophora ferox Wikipedia


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