With a season stretching from June to October, there are roughly 40 species of mosquitoes that have been identified in Maine with less than half of those species biting humans. Mosquitoes are most active during dusk and dawn but preventative measures can be taken to protect yourself and your family from bites.

  • Larval Habitat:  Tree roots and soft moss in mat cavities in acidic Red Maple and Atlantic White Cedar Swamps.
  • Winter Season: Species In Larva stage
  • Host Preference:  Almost exclusively birds, rarely mammals. Human derived blood meals have been identified from females collected in New Jersey indicating that species may occasionally bite humans.
  • Virus Isolation:  Cache Valley, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Flanders, Highlands J, Western Equine Encephalitis and West Nile.
  • Phenology (Life Cycle):  Two or more sets of offspring a year. Larvae: Year Round. Adults: May- December

  • Larval Habitat:  Artificial containers (e.g., catch basins, barrels, flower pots, discarded tires) and stagnant, temporary pools with a high organic content; highly tolerant of polluted waters.
  • Winter Season:  Adult females survive the winter  in damp, well protected man made structures, especially unheated basements, cellars, and bunkers.
  • Host Preference: Birds occasionally mammals. Primary bird feeder but will bite humans, especially during the evening. Readily enters houses.
  • Virus Isolations:  Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Flanders, Highlands J, West Nile
  • Phenology (Life Cycle):  Two or more sets of offspring a year. Larvae: May- October. Adults: Year Round

  • Larval Habitat:  Natural and artificial containers (e.g., catch basins), woodland and temporary pools; tolerant of polluted waters.
  • Winter Season:  Adult females overwinter in well-protected natural and manmade enclosures (e.g., basements, caves, animal burrows).
  • Host Preference:  Birds. Primary a bird feeder but is reported to bite humans, when abundant and wehn emerging from hibernation in the spring.
  • Virus Isolation:  Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Flanders, Highlands J, Jamestown Canyon, West Nile
  • Phenology:  Two or more sets of offspring a year. Larvae: May-October. Adults: Year Round

  • Larval Habitat: Permanent bodies of water with muddy substrates and abundant emergent vegetation (e.g., cattails). Larvae and insect between larva and adult that obtains air by attaching themselves to the roots and stems of emergent plants. When disturbed, they detach and burrow in the mud making them difficult to locate.
  • Winter Season:  In Larva stage.
  • Host Preference:  Birds and mammals. Females redlily bite humans in the early morning, at dusk, in the evening, and during the day in densely shaded areas.
  • Virus Isolation:  Cache Valley, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Flanders, Highlands, J, Jamestown Canyon, Trivittatus, West Nile
  • Phenology (Life Cycle):   One set of offspring per year. Larvae: Year Round. Adults: May- September

  • Larval Habitat:  A floodwater species found in a wide variety of temporary freshwater pools and depressions in open areas (e.g., flooded fields, retention ponds, roadside puddles, woodland pools).
  • Host Preference:  Mammals. Females are vicious human biters, often traveling considerable distances from their breeding sites.
  • Winter Season:  Are in egg stage when waiting out the winter season.
  • Virus Isolations– Cache Valley, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Highlands J, Jamestown Canyon, West Nile
  • Phenology (Life Cycle) -Two or more sets of offspring a year. Larvae: April to Spring. Adults: May to October

  • Larval Habitat– Temporary (vernal) leaf-lined woodland pools.
  • Winter Season– In egg stage when waiting out the winter season.
  • Host Preference– Mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Females readily bite humans and can be a serious pest, especially in wooded areas near the breeding site.
  • Virus Isolations– Cache Valley, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Highlands J, Jamestown Canyon, West Nile
  • Phenology (Life Cycle): Although reported to have one set of offspring a year, with delayed egg hatch later in the season: Larvae: March-June and September- October. Adults: May- October

  • Larval Habitat:  High-tide salt pools in coastal regions.
  • Winter Season: In egg stage when waiting out the winter season.
  • Host Preference: Mammals. Females are aggressive human biters that attack anytime of the day in shaded places at night.
  • Virus Isolations: Cache Valley, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Jamestown Canyon, West Nile
  • Phenology (Life Cycle): Two or more sets of offspring a year., Larvae: limited collections June- July. Adults: June- October

  • Larval Habitat:  Temporary brackish and freshwater pools in the upland edges of coastal salt marshes.
  • Winter Season: In egg stage when waiting out the winter season.
  • Host Preference: Mammals and birds. A pest species, especially in coastal areas.
  • Virus Isolations: Cache Valley, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Highlands J, Jamestown Canyon, West Nile
  • Phenology (Life Cycle):  Two or more sets of offspring a year.  Larvae: March- November Adults: May- October

  • Larval Habitat:  Natural and artificial containers including rock holes along stream beds, tree holes, catch basin, birth baths, and discarded tire casing
  • Winter Season:  In egg stage when waiting out the winter season
  • Host Preference:  Mammal. Females are aggressive biters that attack humans during the day, early evening and after dark.
  • Virus Isolations: None
  • Phenology (Life Cycle):  Two or more sets of offspring a year. Larvae: March- November, Adults: June- October