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1 - Introduction to mosquitoes (Culicidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

Mike Service
Mike Service
Affiliation:
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
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Summary

There are some 3530 species of mosquitoes, which are traditionally placed in 43 genera, all contained in the family Culicidae. However, some mosquito experts recognize a different classification that has many more (113) genera. For example, some mosquitoes previously in the genus Aedes have been transferred to genera such as Ochlerotatus and Stegomyia. This results in Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti becoming Ochlerotatus albopictus and Stegomyia aegypti. However, as these new names are not so well known to non-mosquito experts I have retained the older names such as Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti.

Mosquitoes are divided into three subfamilies: Toxorhynchitinae, Anophelinae (anophelines) and Culicinae (culicines). Mosquitoes have a worldwide distribution, occurring throughout the tropical and temperate regions and northwards into the Arctic Circle. The only areas from which they are absent are Antarctica and a few islands. They have been found at elevations of 3500 m and down mines to depths of 1250 m below sea level.

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Medical Entomology for Students , pp. 1 - 33
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2012

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