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Culicidae > Culicinae > Culisetini

Distribution
Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djbouti, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldovia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunesia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zaire, Zimbabwe
Distribution map

Synonyms
None

Medical Importance
Three species, Cs. inornata, Cs. melanura, and Cs. dyari are vectors of both Eastern and Western equine encephalitis virus in North America.

Important References >>		 habitus image Representative species shown here:
Culiseta morsitans

Genus-specific Diagnostic Characters, Adult Stage:
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1. Prespiracular setae present,
2. Lower mesepimeral setae present,
3. Antenna distinctly shorter than proboscis,
4. Proboscis not or only slightly tapered, tip may be slightly swollen.

Recommended characters:
5. Base of hindcoxa distinctly ventral to base of mesomeron.

Bionomics
Most Culiseta are cold-adapted species which only occur in warmer climates during the colder parts of the year or at higher elevations where temperatures are low. The larvae of most species are found in ground waters such as bogs, marshes, ponds, streams, ditches, and rock-pools, but an African species occurs in tree-holes, a common eastern Palaearctic species occurs in wells and rock-pools, and several Australian species occur underground. Little is known about the blood-feeding habits of females. Most species feed on birds and mammals, but a few feed on reptiles. Several species attack domestic animals and occasionally humans.

Genus-specific Diagnostic Characters, Larval Stage >>