MOSQUITOS

introduction of mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are a family of small, midge-like flies: the Culicidae. Although a few species are harmless or even useful to humanity, the females of most species are ectoparasites whose tube-like mouthparts (called a proboscis) pierce the hosts' skin to suck the blood.Some mosquitoes also attack invertebrates, mainly arthropods.
Though the loss of blood is seldom of any importance to the victim, the saliva of the mosquito often causes an irritating rash that is a serious nuisance.
 Much more serious though, are the roles of many species of mosquitoes as vectors of diseases.
 In passing from host to host, some transmit extremely harmful infections such a malaria,yellow fever, west nile virus and filariasis.

TYPES OF MOSQUITOES IN MALAYSIA

Anopheles

Anopheles also can serve as the vectors for canine heartworm Dirofilaria immitis, the filariasis-causing species Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi, and viruses such as one that causes O'nyong'nyong fever.

Aedes

Members of the Aedes genus are known vectors for numerous viral infections. Viruses that cause dengue fever, yellow fever, West Nile fever, chikungunya, and eastern equine encephalitis.

Culex

Vectors of important diseases, such as West Nile virus, filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis and avian malaria.

Mansonia

 
Mansonia mosquitoes are big, black or brown mosquitoes with sparkling on their wings and legs. Transmit various arboviruses, including Venezuelan equine encephalitis. Mansonioides transmit several arboviruses, Brugian filariasis. Mansonia uniformis, is a vector of Wuchereria bancrofti.

LIFE CYCLE OF MOSQUITOES

• Female mosquitoes lay about 30-300 eggs at one time.
•  Eggs are black or brown in color and 1mm or less. 
• In most culinices , the eggs are elongate or oval in shape and laid on the water surface in a raft, but eggs of Mansonia are cylinder and pointed apically and laid in a sticky mass on the underside of aquatic plants.
•  Aedes do not lay their eggs on the water surface, but laid singly above the water line on a moist substrate and can withstand desiccation for months.
•  Eggs of anophelines are boat-shaped and laid singly on the surface of the water.

Larva (Wigglers)

•It needs food

•Breath

•7-10 days

•4 instar stages

•Larvae molt to grow

•The fourth stage will form pupa

Pupa (Tumblers)

•No mouth part – does not eat

•1-4 days

•Has breathing siphon (trumpet) - Cephalothoraxes

•Divided into 2 parts:

–Cephalothoraxes (head & thorax)

–Abdomen

•Paddle – to swim

Adult

•Male mosquitoes

–live for a few days

–feed on plant nectar or fluid

•Female mosquitoes

–live for a few weeks

–feed on blood as source of protein for development of eggs

DISEASES

•Anophelene: Malaria

•Aedes aegypti: Denggi berdarah

•Aedes aegypti :Yellow Fever

•Aedes aegypti: Chikungunya

•Aedes albopictus: Demam Denggi

•Genus Mansonia: Filariasis

•Genus Culex: Japanese Encefalitis

•Genus Culex: West Nile Fever

•Genus Culex: St. Louis Encephalitis

•Genus Culex: Eastern Equine Encephalitis