Mosquitoes

Code QD079999

Culicidae (as now restricted, excluding Dixidae and Chaoboridae) are easily recognised by the lack of prolegs, the fused and distended three thoracic segments and the presence of distinctive mouth (labral) brushes on the head.

Larval mosquitoes are much more common in lentic (standing) waters than lotic: in running waters they are restricted to sheltered margins, and here Anopheles may be common. The three major groupings are the subfamily Anophelinae in which there is no respiratory siphon, with the respiratory spiracles dorsally situated on a chitinised plate, and the Culicinae and Toxorhynchitinae which have the spiracles on a respiratory siphon. The latter are restricted to phytotelmata.