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Home > Psorophora howardii

Psorophora howardii

A species of Psorophora

This mosquito is very large, has shaggy legs, and has a wing length of 6.0–6.5 mm (0.24–0.26 in). The scales on the wings are narrow and dark brown. The proboscis is long and brown. The palpi are nearly half as long as the proboscis and brown. The proboscis and the palpi are covered with setae. The head has broad, flat, grayish-white scales except for a narrow median bare stripe. The thorax is dark brown to black. The abdomen has a broad median patch of white scales. The legs are dark yellow and purple. The adult females are persistent biters and will attack at any time of the day. It can spread the West Nile virus, and can puncture clothing such as through a coat, vest, and two shirts since the species is 8 to 10 mm long.

Bite Humans

General Info About Psorophora howardii

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Attributes of Psorophora howardii

Colors

Brown

Black

Gray

White

Habitat

The mosquito can be found in the Southeastern United States, Mexico, the West Indies, and Central America, breeding in rain pools, grassy ditches, and depressions. P. howardii can be found in citrus furrow irrigation systems in coastal southeastern Florida; it oviposits low in the furrows. The eggs hatch by rainfall and irrigation.

Adult Food Sources

Plant nectars, sugar sources from plants, blood from vertebrates (females only), honeydew, fruit juices

Larva Food Source

Small aquatic organisms, larvae of other mosquitoes, aquatic invertebrates, organic matter, microorganisms

Biting/stinging

The Psorophora howardii may bite humans actively. Please stay away from it.

Allergy-causing

Not reported

Defensive attack

Not reported

Venomous

Not reported

Non-poisonous

Not reported

Borer

Not reported

Pollinator

Not reported

Mouthparts Type

Piercing-sucking mouthparts

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Species Status of Psorophora howardii

Common

Predators of Psorophora howardii Larvae

Fish, aquatic insects, tadpoles, predatory diving beetles

Predators of Adult Psorophora howardii

Birds, bats, dragonflies, spiders, frogs

Interesting Facts About Psorophora howardii

Female psorophora howardii can lay up to 200 eggs at once, which are capable of lying dormant over winter and hatching during the next suitable conditions.

Scientific Classification of Psorophora howardii

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Tips for Finding Psorophora howardii

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Youth Habitat of Psorophora howardii

Freshwater Habitats, Mangroves and Coastal Wetlands

Habitat Preferences of Psorophora howardii Through Different Life Stages

The eggs of psorophora howardii are laid in moist soil or substrate near water bodies prone to flooding. As larvae, they live in stagnant or temporary pools of freshwater, where they can find ample organic matter for nourishment. Pupae typically remain in the same aquatic environments, suspended near the water surface. Adults are often found in close proximity to their breeding sites, particularly in dense vegetation or grassy areas where they can find both refuge and hosts for blood-feeding. When searching for stages of psorophora howardii, investigate floodplain areas and temporary pools following rain, examine vegetation near these pools for adults, and closely inspect water surfaces for pupal cases.

When is the Best Time to Observe Psorophora howardii

The best time to find psorophora howardii is typically dusk or dawn when adults are most active. Larvae can be found during daylight hours in stagnant water sources.

What is the Best Weather to Observe Psorophora howardii

Mild to warm weather with high humidity levels is conducive for locating psorophora howardii, as these conditions are favorable for their activity and breeding.

How and Where Can You Find Psorophora howardii at Different Life Stages

Egg Psorophora howardii eggs are typically laid on the surface of stagnant or standing water. Inspect water containers, ponds, and discarded tires for tiny, dark eggs.

Larva Psorophora howardii larvae are aquatic and found in stagnant water. Look for wriggling larvae in standing water, such as ditches, birdbaths, and other containers that may hold water.

Pupal Psorophora howardii pupae, also located in water, can be collected by using a fine mesh net to skim the surface of standing water repositories where larvae were found.

Adult Psorophora howardii adults can be found resting on vegetation or other surfaces near breeding sites. Attract them using CO2 baits or light traps set up at dusk or dawn.

Are Psorophora howardii harmful?

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Are Psorophora howardii harmful to humans?

Routine reaction. The bitten skin is red swelling and itching. This symptom may automatically disappear within a few hours or days depending on the mosquito species and the victim's body type. It is advised to apply antiphlogistic and antipruritic products such as peppermint cream.

Serious allergic reaction. Mosquito bites are very unlikely to cause large areas of swelling, soreness, redness, low fever, urticaria, and Lymphadenopathy. These serious reactions are prone to occur in children and people with immune system diseases.

Secondary injury. Scratching the bite may cause wound infection.

Some mosquitoes can spread disease and parasites.

In general, common mosquitoes do not cause much harm through bites. They only cause skin scratch and rash. However, a few species of mosquitoes are vectors for many serious diseases.

They transmit viruses from one host to the next through bloodsucking. A variety of arbovirus diseases such as dengue fever, yellow fever, and malaria can spread rapidly in this way.

Additionally, their impact is huge. Every year about 700 million people are infected with mosquito bites, and about 700,000 of them will die as a result. So rated by the Mosquito Control Association, the mosquito is one of the most dangerous insects in the world.

Neither every type of mosquitoes nor vector mosquitoes can definitely transmit the virus. Only certain types of mosquitoes that already have a specific type of viruses in the body can transmit the virus.

If the virus is ingested by non-vector mosquitoes, it will be destroyed by the digestive system and become too inactivated to spread.

Only when female vector mosquitoes suck the blood of an already infected person, the pathogen can enter the mosquitoes and multiply inside them. Then the viruses can be spread to the next susceptible host through the mosquitoes.

Female mosquitoes can also pass viruses to their offspring. After the offspring are mature, they can spread directly in the unaffected host

What is the most effective prevention against Psorophora howardii?

Avoid periods when mosquitoes are active. Dusk to dawn is the most active period for mosquitoes. Outdoor activities should be avoided or reduced at this time. If it is necessary to be outdoors, please do protection works.

Choice of clothes for going out

Light-colored clothing
Long sleeves and trousers
Thick socks or fully covered shoes
Hats (with gauze) that protect ears and neck

Use insect repellent. Insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin or lemon eucalyptus oil (vegetable compounds) can temporarily repel mosquitoes. Among them, DEET has the longest-lasting effect.

Please read the instructions carefully and follow them strictly.
Keep away from food when using the product.
Avoid being mistakenly consumed by your baby.
Avoid mixing mosquito repellent products with other chemical products to prevent unnecessary chemical reactions occurring.
After using the same mosquito repellent spray for 1-2 months continuously, please switch to other brands of it for better effects.

Other considerations

Repair broken windows and doors in houses and camping tents.

Use mosquito nets in strollers and cribs.

If necessary, you can consider installing a physical mosquito repellent lamp in the courtyard. It is beautiful and efficient but with certain risks. Families with young children need to pay special attention to the installation location.

Bring pets to the veterinary clinic for regular physical examinations to detect the presence of cardiac filariasis.

How to get rid of Psorophora howardii?

Reduce mosquitoes in your home

Eliminate the stagnant water that mosquitoes need to reproduce. Do not place used tires, bowls, cups, and other items in the yard that may store water.
If there are empty flower pots, please place them in a place where water will not accumulate or invert them.
If there is no special need, drain the pool in the courtyard.
If you need to keep water in the pool, you can feed the ornamental fish which can eat a lot of mosquito larvae and increase appreciation.
Drain roofs and courtyards frequently.
Empty the pool at least once a week, as often as possible.
The hydroponic plants in your home should be changed in time.

Homemade simple traps

Wine bottle trap. Place the unfinished beer or empty bottle filled with sugar water in a cool corner. It will attract mosquitoes and stick to drowning.

Basin detergent trap. At night, put a water basin in front of the window and mix it well with detergent. The next morning, there will be dead mosquitoes in the water basin. If you stick to this method for some time, the number of mosquitoes in your home will decrease.

Taking anti-allergic drugs. If you have ever had serious adverse reactions to mosquito bites, when you know that you may go to an environment filled with mosquitoes and inevitably get bitten, please consider taking anti-allergic drugs in advance under the guidance of a doctor. Also, do Good physical anti-mosquito preparation.

Seek medical attention immediately if you experience fever, headache, body pain and infection after bitten by mosquitoes.

Pet cats and dogs should be treated with medicine under the guidance of a professional veterinarian. In the following at least one month, animals must be restricted from intense exercise to avoid excitement. The reason is that after the drug kills the adult worms, it may block some of the pulmonary blood vessels. Therefore intense exercise will cause breathing difficulties for pets. After 6 months of treatment, please reexamine to check if the worms have been completely removed.

Tips and tricks

Eat more garlic. If you can accept and eat garlic, not only that it is good for your health, but also the smell of garlic can keep the mosquitoes away from you.

Use garlic juice. The garlic can be mashed, and the juice can be applied to doors and windows to repel mosquitoes.

Use orange lights. Replace the white light with an orange light in your house. You can also wrap the bulb with orange cellophane or silk cloth to drive away mosquitoes.

Increase intake of vitamin B family. More intake of foods rich in vitamin B family can reduce the attraction of mosquitoes.

Fumigation indoor. Don't discard the orange peel after eating. Dry and light the peel for fumigation, it can get rid of insects and odor. This works the same as wormwood as well.

Grow special plants. Mosquitoes stay away from plants such as mint, lavender, onion, tomato, lemongrass, geranium, tuberose, garlic. It is advised to plant these items around the house.

Harmful Effects of Psorophora howardii

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Bite Humans

Psorophora howardii females bite humans primarily to obtain a blood meal, which is crucial for egg development. These insects use their mouthparts to pierce the skin and feed on blood, often resulting in an itchy welt as an immediate consequence of the bite.

Nuisance Pests

Psorophora howardii aggressively bites humans, causing itchiness and discomfort. Particularly active during twilight, psorophora howardii's presence is distressing as it disrupts outdoor activities and can transmit diseases, thus ranging from being a mild annoyance to posing severe health risks.

More Effects of Psorophora howardii