Which species is described as a winter mosquito?

Which species is described as a winter mosquito?

• A. Cs. incidens
• B. Cs. inornata
• C. Cx. tarsalis
• D. Ps. coloumbiae

Answer: (B)

Winter mosquitoes are those that survive the cold season as adults, hunkering down in sheltered spots and becoming active again when conditions warm. Culiseta inornata fits this pattern and is commonly described as a winter mosquito because adults overwinter and can be encountered in early spring or even milder winter days. This behavior helps explain why you might see biting mosquitoes outside typical warm-season windows in areas where this species is present. The other species listed have different seasonal patterns and aren’t classically described as winter mosquitoes, so they don’t share this overwintering behavior in the same way. Understanding which species overwinters as an adult helps explain why control and surveillance efforts are prioritized early in the year for this particular mosquito.

Winter mosquitoes are those that survive the cold season as adults, hunkering down in sheltered spots and becoming active again when conditions warm. Culiseta inornata fits this pattern and is commonly described as a winter mosquito because adults overwinter and can be encountered in early spring or even milder winter days. This behavior helps explain why you might see biting mosquitoes outside typical warm-season windows in areas where this species is present. The other species listed have different seasonal patterns and aren’t classically described as winter mosquitoes, so they don’t share this overwintering behavior in the same way. Understanding which species overwinters as an adult helps explain why control and surveillance efforts are prioritized early in the year for this particular mosquito.