b. Breeding Areas. Mosquitoes will breed in practically any collection of water
that stands longer than five to seven days. Different kinds of mosquitoes vary in their
choice of breeding places. Some like sunlit places whereas others prefer the shade.
Some prefer fresh water to stagnant water. Others prefer the brackish water of salt
marshes. Common breeding sites are ponds, pools, slow-moving streams, inland
swamps and bogs, salt marshes, ditches, tree holes, rock holes, and manmade
containers of water. Manmade containers include wells, cisterns, rain barrels, roof
gutters, road gutters, cans, buckets, drains, cesspools, septic tanks, pit latrines,
excavation sites, road holes, bomb craters, and old tires that have been discarded.
c. Characteristics of Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex Mosquitoes.
(1) Anopheles. Anopheles mosquitoes bite primarily during the period from
dusk to dawn. They may bite during the daylight hours in an area that is heavily shaded
or in a room that is dark. Most species will breed in any collection of water, but some
species breed only in tree holes. The larvae lie parallel to the surface of the water. The
adults usually rest and feed with the body at an angle of 45 to the surface (figure 5-2).
(2) Aedes. Aedes mosquitoes bite in daylight. They breed in fresh,
stagnant, or brackish water. Aedes aegypti, one of the most important disease
transmitters, breed almost entirely on old tires, tin cans, flower vases, and other similar
manmade containers. The larvae hang at an angle to the surface of the water. The
adult rests and feeds with its body parallel to the surface (figure 5-2).
Figure 5-2. Typical positions of mosquitoes. A Anopheles larva.
B Anopheles adult. C Aedes or Culex larva. D Aedes or Culex adult.
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