|  Mosquitoes are insects belonging
to the order Diptera, the True Flies. Like all True Flies,
they have two wings, but unlike other flies, mosquito wings
have scales. Female mosquitoes' mouthparts form a long piercing-sucking
proboscis. Males differ from females by having feathery antennae
and mouthparts not suitable for piercing skin. A mosquito's
principal food is nectar or similar sugar source.
There are over 2500 different species of mosquitoes throughout
the world; about 200 species occur in the United States with
45 species occurring in Oregon. A new species, Ochlerotatus
japonicus was reported from the Pierce County, Washington in
2002. Each
mosquito species has a Latin scientific name, such as Anopheles
quadrimaculatus. Anopheles is the "generic" name
of a group of closely related mosquitoes and quadrimaculatus
is
the "species" name that represents a group of individuals
that are similar in structure and physiology and capable of
interbreeding. These names are used in a descriptive manner
so that the name
tells something about each particular mosquito, for example,
Anopheles -- Greek meaning hurtful or prejudicial and quadrimaculatus
-- Latin meaning four spots (4 dark spots on the wings). Some
species
have what are called "common names" as well as scientific
names, such as Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus , the "black
salt marsh mosquito."
Scientific investigators (taxonomists) are constantly looking
for new mosquitoes, as well as reviewing previously identified
specimens for new information or identifying characteristics.
Better microscopic equipment developed in the last 20 years
has improved the taxonomist's ability to determine differences
between
species. Recently such a review by Dr. John Reinert (2000)
led to a change in the name of many mosquitoes belonging
to the genus
Aedes. Using improved methods and over 30 years' experience
he elevated a subgenus of Aedes (Ochlerotatus) to the status
of
genus. This will necessitate the renaming of many mosquitoes
previously named Aedes to the genus Ochlerotatus and the
rewriting of many taxonomic keys important to public health
entomologists
working in mosquito control. |
