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Introduction
Mosquitoes are insects belonging to
the order Diptera, the True Flies. Like all True Flies, they
have two wings, but unlike other flies, mosquito wings have
scales. Female mosquitoes' mouthparts form a long
piercing-sucking proboscis. Males differ from females by having
feathery antennae and mouthparts not suitable for piercing skin.
A mosquito's principal food is nectar or similar sugar source.
There are over 2500 different species
of mosquitoes throughout the world; about 200 species occur in
the United States with 77 species occurring in Florida. A new
species, Anopheles grabhamii, was reported from the
Florida Keys in 2001 (Darsie et al. 2002). Each mosquito species
has a Latin scientific name, such as Anopheles
quadrimaculatus. Anopheles is the "generic" name of a group
of closely related mosquitoes and quadrimaculatus is the
"species" name that represents a group of individuals that are
similar in structure and physiology and capable of
interbreeding. These names are used in a descriptive manner so
that the name tells something about each particular mosquito,
for example, Anopheles - Greek meaning hurtful or
prejudicial and quadrimaculatus - Latin meaning four
spots (4 dark spots on the wings). Some species have what are
called "common names" as well as scientific names, such as
Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus, the "black salt marsh
mosquito."
Scientific investigators (taxonomists)
are constantly looking for new mosquitoes, as well as reviewing
previously identified specimens for new information or
identifying characteristics. Better microscopic equipment
developed in the last 20 years has improved the taxonomist's
ability to determine differences between species. Recently such
a review by Dr. John Reinert (2000) led to a change in the name
of many mosquitoes belonging to the genus Aedes. Using improved
methods and over 30 years' experience he elevated a subgenus of
Aedes ( Ochlerotatus ) to the status of genus. This will
necessitate the renaming of many mosquitoes previously named
Aedes to the genus Ochlerotatus and the rewriting of many
taxonomic keys important to public health entomologists working
in mosquito control.
The Name "Mosquito"
The Spanish called the mosquitoes "musketas,"
and the native Hispanic Americans called them "zancudos."
"Mosquito" is a Spanish or Portuguese word meaning "little fly"
while "zancudos," a Spanish word, means "long-legged." The use
of the word "mosquito" is apparently of North American origin
and dates back to about 1583 (http://www.mda.state.md.us/mosquito/mosquito.htm).
In Europe, mosquitoes were called "gnats" by the English, "Les
moucherons" or "Les cousins" by French writers, while the
Germans used the name "Stechmucken" or "Schnacke." In
Scandinavian countries mosquitoes were called by a variety of
names including "myg" and "myyga" and the Greeks called them "konopus."
In 300 B.C., Aristotle referred to mosquitoes as "empis" in his
"Historia Animalium" where he documented their life cycle and
metamorphic abilities. Modern writers used the name Culex and it
is retained today as the name of a mosquito genus. What is the
correct plural form of the word mosquito? In Spanish it would be
"mosquitos," but in English "mosquitoes" (with the "e") is
correct.
Mosquitoes can be an annoying, serious
problem in man's domain. They interfere with work and spoil
hours of leisure time. Their attacks on farm animals can cause
loss of weight and decreased milk production. Some mosquitoes
are capable of transmitting diseases such as malaria, yellow
fever, dengue, filariasis and encephalitis [St. Louis
encephalitis (SLE), Western Equine encephalitis (WEE), LaCrosse
encephalitis (LAC), Japanese encephalitis (JE), Eastern Equine
encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV)] to humans and
animals.
Idaho Statute Title 39 Health and Safety Chapter 28 Abatement
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