Cattail Mosquito

Appearance

"Coquillettidia perturbans" are small flies that are characterized by slender bodies, long legs, and can range from 2.0 mm to 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. General characteristics of "C. perturbans" include, but are not limited to: a small head, wedge-shaped thorax, elongated and slim wings, a lengthened and almost cylindrical abdomen, plumose antennae in males and pilose antennae in females, along with a long and slender proboscis, enabling this species with a piercing and sucking apparatus in order to obtain blood meals. The larva and pupa of "C. perturbans" are small and contain a siphon modified for respiration through underwater, aquatic plant life.

Behavior

"Coquillettidia perturbans" lay their eggs in the form of an egg raft in a marsh or swamp habitat. This raft usually contains around 100 eggs, which generally hatch after several days depending on the temperature of the environment. The larvae and pupae are adapted with an abdominal segment capable of piercing the inner gaseous tissue of the aquatic plant life, or aerenchyma, located within this environment, such as cattails and "Juncus" sp. This piercing allows access to the root epidermal cell layer of the plant, or the aerenchyma, in order to breathe, allowing the larvae and pupae to complete atmospheric oxygen uptake exclusive of the risk of being located near the surface of the water, as to avoid predators and insecticides. "C. perturbans" complete four aquatic larval instars while pupal development ranges from a few hours to a few weeks depending on the climate present. If the climate consists of cold weather, this could lengthen the larval period several months. The pupal stage can range from a few hours to several weeks, depending on the climate of the environment. Approximately twenty-four hours after the adult is released from the pupal case, the wings have completed the hardening process and are fully expanded, enabling it to fly. The life cycle takes around seven to sixteen days to complete, and the "C. perturbans" can live up to five or six months if the hibernation stage takes place.

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 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.