Arthropods • Earth.com

Coquillettidia perturbans

(Coquillettidia perturbans)

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Description

Coquillettidia perturbans is a species of mosquito that have been documented in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.This mosquito is a known as a vector of West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalomyelitis.The geographic range of C. perturbans is increasing due to the growing extensity of the feeding area. They are known to exist throughout the United States, mainly with a southern distribution, and are mammalophilic. Coquillettidia sp. are vectors for many diseases, including West Nile virus, and Eastern equine encephalomyelitis, among others.C. perturbans infected with Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (or EEE) have been discovered in the United States, eastern Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. This mosquito is implicated in transmitting EEE to humans, horses, resident birds, and sometimes emus, and also transmitting Jamestown Canyon virus while feeding on deer.Though C. perturbans are not usually the primary vector of EEE, it still influences the spread of this disease due to its ability to fly long distances and feed on large animals, including humans. The climate where this disease transmission takes place most often can be defined as swamp and/or hardwood forest habitat. Coquillettidia perturbans are most commonly found in areas of low elevation and high vegetation that have warm summers and a high degree of humidity in the air. This allows for the swamp-like habitat to exist for the growth of cattails (Typha latifolia) and also Juncus sp. C. perturbans prefer in order for prime larval and pupal development to occur. The water quality of the area also plays an important factor for the Coquillettidia sp.: the water must not have current, it also must have a neutral pH, low salt concentration, and a low level of suspended particle matter.The distribution of this species is growing due to the growing area of feeding range, and disease transmission experienced. Coquillettidia perturbans is a mosquito that can range from 2.0 mm to (10.0–15.0 mm) in length. The body of this species contains three segments consisting of a head, thorax, and abdomen. The prominent identifying characteristics of C. perturbans consist of: dark and light scales of the legs in an alternating pattern, the sides of the thorax covered with groups of or scale bristles, while the scales of the wings and palps can be defined as tear-drop in shape and located around the veins and outer edges of the wings, alternating in color.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Class: Insecta
Order:Diptera
Family:Culicidae
Genus:Coquillettidia
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