Today’s blog post is not directly linked to the olfactometer design and build process but instead introduces a little detail around one of the UK’s native mosquitoes.
Both of these are Ochlerotatus punctor and were collected as larvae from the same temporary puddle in the middle of a path through a forest. They were then reared on to adult emergence in the university insectary. It is worth noting that the puddle only lasted about 10 days, yet it yielded many larvae; I do not know however whether the development cycle completed before the puddle dried up. I do know that I did not collect any 4th instars (the final larval stage of mosquitoes) or pupae from the puddle before it dried up.
The images below are included to help highlight some of the physical differences between male and female mosquitoes. The lighting is not great as the photos are taken through the eyepiece of the dissecting microscope in the insectary. These are quite small mosquitoes, about 2/3 the size of the Culiseta species which forms the title image of this blog site.
Ochlerotatus punctor are widely distributed in Britain dependent upon the availability of temporary woodland pools. They females feed on a range of mammals and will readily bite humans, particularly at dusk near aquatic sites (Snow, 1990).
Female Ochlerotatus punctor head with annotations showing pilose antennae and short maxillary palps.
Male Ochlerotatus punctor head with annotations showing plumose antennae and elongate maxillary palps.
References:
Snow, K.R. (1990). Mosquitoes. Slough: The Richmond Publishing Co. Ltd.