Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Unidentified mosquito: Aedes (or Culex)?

Posted by Babaudus on 17-09-2020 23:27
#3

Hi Tony. Many thanks for your quick and helpful response. This gets me a step closer, at least on the genus level. Hmm, yes, I wasn't sure whether the specimen had actually lost some of its hair and/or scales before I took the images. However, I did have a second specimen in the trap that looks strikingly similar to this one - also with a 'bald' scutum and thorax, essentially the same colour and scales present/missing in the same thorax regions. Then, a third similar mosquito (possibly the same species?) was flying around and sitting on a thin tree branch - that one, again, appeared sort of 'abraded', but without any trap interaction (see image). I wonder whether this apparent abrasion is a primary (i.e., losing scales in nature??) or a secondary effect (scales/hair lost due to mechanical abrasion within the mosquito trap/bag). Can mosquitoes actually lose their scales and hair/setae while alive and flying about in the bush? Or is this just what they look like?
I will definitely try to find a fresher, more representative specimen (if there are any) over the coming days. It should be easier to compare/contrast the features then.

Thanks again,
Martin

suevite.lima-city.de/mosquitoes/Second_mosquito1.jpg