There are over 3,000 species of mosquitoes in the world, and every part of the world has these insects, except for Antarctica where mosquitoes can’t survive. However, mosquitoes are of a large population in some parts of the country compared to others because of factors like humidity. In Canada, there are 82 species of mosquitoes, and there are over 60 of these species in Toronto.
Amongst these species, there are three different types that are a big deal in Toronto, and they are the Culex, Aedes and Anopheles.
HOW ARE THESE SPECIES OF MOSQUITOES IN TORONTO SIMILAR?
Mosquitoes have different feeding and breeding habits and different activity levels. However, they have a common body structure, and as is typical of most insects, have three body parts- the head, the thorax and the abdomen. Mosquitoes have similar senses or better put; sensors.
Mosquitoes have two compound eyes that they use for vision. These compound eyes are located on each side of the mosquito’s head, and each eye consists of hundreds of lenses. With these eyes, mosquitoes can see, but they don’t really get a clear compared to humans and the majority of their vertebrate hosts.
The other sensors are however sharper, like their tiny antennae hairs that allow them to identify vibrations in air particles. Though mosquitoes do not have eardrums, they can detect sound from about 32 feet away. They, therefore, can hear, and in contrast to previous belief, can pick sound over long distances.
It’s amazing that they can hear, but they frequently buzz in our ears, as though they are testing our own listening abilities. Why do they do that? Why do they buzz incessantly? The buzzing sound is made by the beating of the mosquito’s wings, and mosquitoes have only one pair of wings, unlike most insects. That buzz is like a form of communication between them as potential mates ‘announce’ their ‘availability’ to be mated. We wish they could announce it elsewhere!
What are the major body parts that differentiate the three types of Mosquitoes in Toronto?
CULEX
Culex mosquitoes have blunt-shaped posterior abdomens compared to the others and are quite small. Also, although Culex and Anopheles mosquitoes have the same colour which is yellow, you can differentiate them from their resting positions. Culex stays parallel to the surface, while Anopheles stays at a 45-degree angle.
AEDES
Aedes mosquitoes are very easy to identify as they have black and white patches. They are distinguished from other species of Toronto mosquitoes by their narrowbodies.
ANOPHELES
As stated earlier, Anopheles mosquitoes have yellow bodies just like the Culex mosquito, but unlike other types of mosquitoes, Anopheles larva lacks a respiratory syphon.
HOW ARE THEY SIMILAR AND DIFFERENT FROM SIMILAR INSECTS?
Mosquitoes belong to the order Diptera just as other insects like flies, so this is the first similarity. One thing that distinguishes Diptera insects from others is that they use only one pair of wings to fly instead of two pairs which are common among others.
Also, Diptera insects have mouthparts that enable them to suck, pierce or sponge liquids from plants or animals. The life cycle of a mosquito isn’t any different too from that of other Diptera insects, as they all go through complete metamorphosis; egg- larvae – pupae -adult.
Mosquitoes are commonly mistaken for insects like crane fly and midges, but there are differences. Unlike the other similar insects, mosquitoes have wings that are longer than their bodies. Also, mosquitoes have a proboscis which extends forward from their mouthparts, while the others lack a visible proboscis. Another difference is that the wing of a mosquito is scaled, while the others have smooth wings.