Saltmarsh Mosquito Ochlerotatus sollicitans (Walker, 1856)    Synonyms: Aedes sollicitans.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Diptera   >   Family Culicidae   >   Genus Ochlerotatus   

Status:

This mosquito is a denizen of our salt marshes and is a very aggressive biter, known for swarming hosts even in the middle of the day. Saltmarsh Mosquitoes are well-known for their ability to fly long distances and can regularly be found 30+ (sometimes over 100) miles from their coastal saltmarsh home!

Description:

The thorax is golden brown flanked along the side (and also through the eye) by a dark chocolaty brown stripe giving it the appearance of having a bandit mask and the proboscis has a bold white band around the middle. These traits make this a fairly easy mosquito to identify. (J. Emm, pers. comm.)

There are 12 records in the project database.

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A Saltmarsh Mosquito in Harford Co., Maryland (8/8/2018). This particular mosquito was found quite far from its breeding grounds. Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A Saltmarsh Mosquito in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/15/2018). Notice the bold white band around the middle of the proboscis. Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A Saltmarsh Mosquito in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/15/2018). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Mosquito in Dorchester Co., Maryland (5/4/2022). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Mosquito in Harford Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Mosquito in Somerset Co., Maryland (7/22/2022). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Mosquito in Harford Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Mosquito in Harford Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Mosquito in Harford Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A Saltmarsh Mosquito in Harford Co., Maryland (8/8/2018). The black patch on the thorax is an area where this mosquito has lost its scales. Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Mosquito in Baltimore Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A Saltmarsh Mosquito collected during the Horn Point Bioblitz in Dorchester Co., Maryland (9/8/2018). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)


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