Aedes rusticus explained

Aedes rusticus is a relatively common European mosquito, that is often responsible for human bites from May to August. Like all mosquitoes, it is only the females that bite.

Distribution

Aedes rusticus has a patchy distribution, from Britain (mainly southern), Belgium, Denmark, Poland, Russia, The Balkans and as far as Asia Minor.

Life cycle

Following a mammal blood meal to provide sufficient protein to produce eggs, females will lay their egg rafts in spring or summer in dried-up pools, they will hatch when the pools flood later in the year. They will overwinter in the 4th larval stage, pupation and adult emergence take place the following spring.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Book: P.S. Cranston . C.D. Ramsdale . K.R. Snow . G.B. White . 1987. Adults, Larvae, and Pupae of British Mosquitoes (Culicidae) A Key. 152 pp. Freshwater Biological Association. 0-900386-46-0.