Quick Reference Mosquito Key

Typical adult mosquito anatomy

All mosquitoes posses a proboscis and this is what differentiates them from other insects that may look simialar to them, such as midges or craneflies. There are approxiamately 60 species of mosquitoes in Michigan alone. Each one of these has its own special niche that it has come to occupy through evolution. A given species may only be present in that niche under certain conditions or during a certain time of year. It is important to understand what species is in a given area because certain species are more prone to transmit disease. In addition, if the majority of adults are identified at a particular location and the niche for those adults is known, then efforts to control the larvae before they emerge and become a pest can be undertaken. The following is a quick dichotomous key to the most common mosquitoes of Tuscola County:

1) Examine mouth parts

1a) Palpus as long as proboscis, dark spots on wings = Anopheles spp.
1b) Palpus shorter than proboscis- 2

2) Examine end of abdomen

2a) Has pointed abdomen, cercus extended- 3
2b) Has rounded or blunt abdomen, cercus retracted- 4

3) Examine size of mosquito

3a) Large mosquito, 1cm in length = Psorophora spp.
3b) Smaller mosquito, more commonly found = Aedes spp.

4) Examine size and coloration

4a) Larger relative to other mosquitoes, posses hairs on wing viens near thorax = Culiseta spp.
4b) Relatively smaller, uniform color = Culex spp.
4c) Proboscis has stripe, pepper colored wing scales = Coquillettidia perturbans
4d) Small dark mosquito with metallic blue head scales = Uranotaenia sapphirina

Larval mosquitoes are difficult to identify and usually certain characteristic movements must be observed for identification. This drawing represents typical Larva Anatomy.