Saltmarsh Mosquito Ochlerotatus sollicitans (Walker, 1856)    Synonyms: Aedes sollicitans.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Diptera   >   Family Culicidae   >   Genus Ochlerotatus   

Status:

This mosquito is a denizen of our salt marshes and is a very aggressive biter, known for swarming hosts even in the middle of the day. Saltmarsh Mosquitoes are well-known for their ability to fly long distances and can regularly be found 30+ (sometimes over 100) miles from their coastal saltmarsh home!

Description:

The thorax is golden brown flanked along the side (and also through the eye) by a dark chocolaty brown stripe giving it the appearance of having a bandit mask and the proboscis has a bold white band around the middle. These traits make this a fairly easy mosquito to identify. (J. Emm, pers. comm.)

There are 11 records in the project database.

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A Saltmarsh Mosquito in Harford Co., Maryland (8/8/2018). This particular mosquito was found quite far from its breeding grounds. Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A Saltmarsh Mosquito in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/15/2018). Notice the bold white band around the middle of the proboscis. Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A Saltmarsh Mosquito in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/15/2018). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Mosquito in Dorchester Co., Maryland (5/4/2022). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Mosquito in Harford Co., Maryland (8/8/2018). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Mosquito in Harford Co., Maryland (8/8/2018). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Mosquito in Somerset Co., Maryland (7/22/2022). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Mosquito in Harford Co., Maryland (8/8/2018). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Mosquito in Harford Co., Maryland (8/8/2018). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A Saltmarsh Mosquito in Harford Co., Maryland (8/8/2018). The black patch on the thorax is an area where this mosquito has lost its scales. Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Saltmarsh Mosquito in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/15/2018). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A Saltmarsh Mosquito collected during the Horn Point Bioblitz in Dorchester Co., Maryland (9/8/2018). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)


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