VPA 221: Veterinary Entomology and Acarology (1+1)

Morphology

MOSQUITOES-GENERAL MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS

Head

• Small and spherical
• Eyes: Large compound eyes, holoptic in males and dichoptic in `females , Ocelli absent
• Antenna:  Long and slender antenna, 14-15 segmented, plumose in males and pilose in females

• Mouthparts: Mouthparts are piercing and sucking type - type of feeding is called solenophage - pipe feeding
• Only females feed on blood
• Females show the presence of a pair of mandibles which are long and needle like –they pierce the skin 
• A pair of maxillae which are stylet like are present
• Food channel is formed by the opposition of hypopharynx and labrum epipharynx
• Labium does not enter the wound
• Male mosquitoes live on nectar or fruit juices as they do not have the mandibles or maxillae

Thorax

• Wedge shaped
• Legs: Three pairs of legs, the third pair is called the floating pair since it does not touch the substrate while resting
• Wings: Wings are narrow, lanceolate and bears  scales
• Wing venation is characteristic in that the 2^nd, 4^th and 5^th longitudinal veins are forked

Abdomen

• Long and slender