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NSW Arbovirus Surveillance & Vector Monitoring Program |  |
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NSW Arbovirus Surveillance & Vector Monitoring Program | |
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The male is on the left and is distinguished by large, hairy antennae and long palps. No males take blood, rather they feed on nectar from plants. Females bloodfeed to obtain a protein source for their eggs. (For a description of mosquito characters click here). |
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Bloodfed Culex annulirostris, the major vector of arboviruses in inland regions of Australia. Additionally, it is also responsible for transmission along the coast. For more information, visit the Culex annulirostris Fact Sheet |
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Larval Culex annulirostris. |
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Another image of Culex annulirostris showing the characteristic white antenna. This image, and the previous, are both of 4th instar larvae. |
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A fourth instar (left) and a 3rd instar (right) larvae of Culex annulirostris. This species possesses two characterisitic spots on the dorsal surface of the abdomen, which can be easily seen in the larvae on the right. |
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Pupa of Culex annulirostris. The developing adult can be readily identified as a male through the pupal skin, by the appearance of the long antennae. |
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Culex annulirostris larvae with a colony of Vorticella. Vorticella is a commensal organism, which is shaped like a bell on a long stalk. Many thousands can occur on the skin of the larvae and they are generally not affected by the presence of this organism. |
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Culex australicus 4th instar larvae. This is a common freshwater breeding mosquito that breeds in the same habitat as Culex annulirostris, although the population peaks do not overlap. For more information visit the Culex australicus Fact Sheet. |
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A 3rd instar Culex bitaeniorhynchus. This large Culex species is uncommonly collected in NSW and despite Murray Valley Encephalitis having been isolated from this species elsewhere in Australia, it is probably not an important vector in south eastern Australia. Click here to see the adult mosquito. |
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Culex gelidus adults, female above, male below. This is an exotic mosquito species recently introduced into Australia and occurs mainly in the northern regions. This species has a distinctive 'frosty' covered thorax. Culex gelidus is a secondary vector of Japanese Encephalitis. |
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Culex gelidus 4th instar larvae. |
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Another Culex gelidus larvae, this time viewed from the front. Note the setae and the developing pupal trumpets in the thorax. |
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A Culex gelidus larvae viewed from the back, note the splayed setae above the anal papillae. |
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An adult female Culex halifaxii. This large brownish mosquito breeds in a variety of habitats in association with other mosquito species as the larval stage is predacious on other mosquito larvae (see below). Culex halifaxii rarely bites humans. |
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A closeup of the head of Culex halifaxii. |
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A fourth instar Culex halifaxii. This is a large species in which the larval stage is predacious on other mosquito larvae. Click here to see a side view of the adult. |
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A closeup of the head of a fourth instar Culex halifaxii, showing the modifed mouth brushes. |
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A 3rd instar larval Culex halifaxii, from the front showing the modified grasping mouthparts. This is the last view seen before the prey larvae is eaten! |
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A pupa and its shed 4th instar skin of Culex halifaxii. |
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A female unfed Culex quinquefasciatus. This is a common species which is often a pest around the home and tends to breed in polluted waters. For more information, visit the Culex quinquefasciatus Fact Sheet. |
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The same female mosquito as above, but now bloodfed. |
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A male Culex quinquefasciatus. |
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This is a closeup of the head of a male Culex quinquefasciatus showing the large palps and hariy antennae, which is typical of male mosquitoes. The female of Culex quinquefasciatus has smaller palps and less hairy antennae. |
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Culex quinquefasciatus larvae (4th instar). |
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A single fourth instar Culex quinquefasciatus. |
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A pupa of Culex quinquefasciatus. |
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Emerging adult. This adult Culex quinquefasciatus is emerging from a split that develops along the thorax of the pupa. |
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All Culex species lay their eggs in a raft, with up to around 300 eggs in a single raft. |
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This distinctive looking Culex larvae occurs in northern Queensland. |
Culex sitiens
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Culex sitiens larvae. This species can be a series pest in some coastal areas of northern NSW, as well as QLD and NT. Typically breeds in brackish pools formed by high tides and rainfall. Click here to see an image of the adult. |
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Like Culex annulirostris above, larval Culex sitiens have distinct white antennae, although unlike Culex annulirostris, is not considered to be an important vector. |
