Culex by Chipka
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Description
The Culex genus of mosquitoes is notable for its propensity to annoy and spread disease; only the females are blood-suckers, and this disease-vectors. The males are harmless and feed on nectar and other plant-derived sources of sugar; they are also distinguished by their smaller size. I’m quite familiar with culex-genus mosquitoes. They’re citizens of Chicago’s insect-population, and in typical Chicago fashion, they are at the source of at least one scandal (usually of a biological nature) per year. (They have the manners of true Chicago politicians...well...the females do.)
Culex mosquitoes of the female persuasion are important in that they are vectors for a variety of diseases. They are a recognized transport system for West Nile Virus, Japanese Encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis, avian Malaria, and Filariasis—an illness caused by worms with a pronounced preference for humans. Fortunately, outbreaks of such diseases are somewhat rare (relatively speaking) in the USA.
I love insects, to no end, but I must say that I don’t keep company with female culex mosquitoes. Unfortunately, I’m unable to distinguish between males and females of the genus, and so—like blood sucking flies, ticks, bedbugs, and other predatory/disease-carrying annoyances…they get squashed, ground into a wet pulp, and squashed again, before I torch them. Males of the genus, usually get a quick: “sorry” if I know that I’ve just killed one. Usually, I don’t.
I actually like mosquitoes…sort of. It’s their feeding habits I can’t stand. They are pollinators, after all, and that’s a good thing if you’re into those colorful appendages often attached to the tops of plants. It’s unfortunate that female mosquitoes require blood, and don’t have the good sense to clean their mouthparts between feedings. They could learn a lesson from cockroaches, as cockroaches (though they don’t care where they walk and they don’t immediately wipe their feet before tracking something nasty across a kitchen counter) will meticulously clean themselves…and clean up after themselves…eventually...but this isn’t about cockroaches, or my near-affection for them. (I like them, as long as they don’t live with me; but that's a post for another day. Or not.)
This particular culex mosquito is a baby—more precisely, a larva. Unlike adults, the larvae feed on water-borne bacteria, algae, and other microscopic organisms. Culex mosquito eggs will hatch only in the presence of water, and the larvae can be easily recognized by their odd, flip/flop manner of swimming. On some occasions, they’ll use the hairs surrounding their mouth parts for locomotion as well…usually while grazing. I find it rather amusing to watch small creatures using their moustaches as a form of locomotion.
This particular mosquito larva is one I captured a while ago. I’d discovered blind midge larvae, sharing a bit of stagnant water with a prodigious number of mosquito larvae. As I’m fascinated by all things insectoidal, I couldn’t resist the urge to keep a few specimens as temporary pets. I photographed them, endlessly…though only a few photos actually came out. One such photo has appeared, already, in my gallery, and this is the only other shot worth sharing. I can’t tell if this now-ex larva is male or female, but I can say that it was inordinately challenging to photograph him (her?) But well worth the effort, and I hope you enjoy this shot as much as I enjoyed making it.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week. I suspect I might be able to start catching up this weekend…but that’s a bit up in the air, as I’ll probably spend a large part of the weekend, sleeping…and thus missing quite a lot. Ah…the life of a mover! Such fun!
Comments (19)
Faemike55
in regards to their feeding habits - I say Burn them all except that they provide food for dragonflies which I like....hmmm a conflicting issue here
NefariousDrO
You are so hard to keep up with! I haven't even had a chance to comment on your last post and you're at it again! This is a fascinating macro, one of an insect at the stage we seldom really look at, too. Like you I don't really like mosquitos, but I can say I don't despise them quite as much as Ticks or Bedbugs. Mosquitos have the decency to announce their approach with their distinct buzzing sound, so at least to some degree they give me a sporting chance. But I digress (I'm drinking my 2nd pint of a nice rich stout, so I'm probably rambling) once again. I love the rich golden colors, and the fascinating shapes you've caught in this creature's portrait. Superb macro!
charpix
Okay, I'm having flashbacks of "Jurassic Park" again. lol Wonderful capture. The largest mosquitoes we've ever encountered was on a camping trip in the Nevada Desert. We called them Boeing 747 mosquitoes because they left welts the size of a bee sting. Nevertheless, they are all pests, and the smaller variety we have in our valley doesn't compare to this one, either.
Jay-el-Jay
A good potrait of this mini-monster which is one of the most dangerous creatures on this planet.
beachzz
mosquitos--yuck! but danged if this isn't a great foto of this creature!!
netot
Cool capture!! Reading your text I realized that the body of a mosquito is like the UN of microbes.They do not like me, and fortunately, I did not like them. When we go camping, I can walk without a shirt, and they go looking for my wife and my son even if they wear long sleeves. I think my blood is too bitter for them. Or I have high cholesterol and they prefer light.
auntietk
Mosquitoes love me. I mean seriously. They adore, crave, and pine for me. During the summer I have to spray myself at least daily in order to not be eaten totally alive. I have collected a laundry list of ways to keep them away. (Spraying Listerine around our campsite is at the top of my list of things to try this summer.) If I wait too long to use bug spray ... say 30 or 40 seconds ... I'll be covered head to toe in bites. Bill, however, standing right next to me, is unaffected and oblivious. There are other pollinators. Kill them all and let God sort them out.
wysiwig
This is a really fine image and I would have no idea what it was without your very informative and interesting description. I must second Tara's coment, however. Having traveled extensively in Asia I have suffered from their visits on numerous occasions. Rice paddies make for wonderful photos but oh the price you pay. The ones in Indonesia sometimes seemed large enough to carry off small babies.
durleybeachbum
Well done for getting this shot, Chip! We were taught at school that if a mozzie sits with its back parallel with the surface on which it settles it is not a carrier of Malaria. The Anopheles species that is a carrier sits with its tail pointing upwards at about 45 degrees. The Culex sounds even nastier, carrying all those revoting things!!
tibet2004uk
Now that's fascinating! The pic as well as the explanation. Thx for sharing this :)
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend. God Bless.
flavia49
wonderful macro and writing
helanker
WOW What a fantastic shot, Chip. You did a great job here :-D
sandra46
EXCELLENT IMAGE!
RodS
A fascinating macro, and most interesting info, Chip! But I'm right with Tara on how to deal with them - pretty much anything short of a flamethrower or small nuclear device... The little buggers seem to be able to track me wherever I am. And they unerringly manage to smuggle one or two tiny winged insurgents into my house in the summer to distract and harass me.
MrsRatbag
LOL @ Tara! Me too, I know exactly where you're coming from! But I did find that when I was taking Niacin and Fish Oil as cholesterol treatment I didn't get a single mosquito bite. Now I've stopped they're back at it again. I'd still be taking it but I can't take the baby aspirin that prevents the itching/flushing from the niacin anymore. Anyway, that's a BIG digress. This is a wonderful shot, and really fascinating ramble from you, Chip. And I don't like these guys at all, and don't feel at all guilty killing as many as I can before they get me!
bmac62
I am looking, smiling, enjoying but can never suffer a kind word about 'skeeters:)
praep
Bad little monster - looks hungry.
danapommet
This is a great shot Chip and I think that I read someplace that they breath through their tail in this position.