A
pair of compound eyes and antennae as
well as mouthparts on its head
A
pair of jointed legs on each segment of
the thorax and a pair of wings
The
abdomen is composed of ten segments
Behaviour
:
Mating: Female mosquito of many species
mate 1 to 2 days after hatching. Female
adults normally mate only once in its
life.
Feeding:
Normally only female adults feed on
animal blood. Male adults feed on plant
juice. Some species are anthropophilic
and some are zoophilic.
Egg laying: Female mosquito of most
species has to get blood meal for the
development of eggs. Breeding place
can be permanent stagnant water, flowing
water, temporary stagnant water or containers.
Resting:
Adult mosquito rests near breeding site
for a few hours after hatching. Exophilic
mosquito also rests indoors for a short
period of time before and after feeding.
Dispersion:
Adult mosquito disperses for feeding,
finding suitable resting sites, mating
and laying eggs. It can disperse through
flight, air current or vehicles.
Hibernation:
Some mosquitoes (for example most species
of Anopheles and Culex) hibernate in
winter at adult stage. Aedes over winter
at egg stage.
Longevity:
Generally male mosquitoes only survive
one week but the females can live for
two to three weeks.
Mosquitoes
commonly found in Hong Kong
Among
the more than 1600 species found around
the World, 71 species have been found locally.
11 species of these locally found mosquitoes
are Anopheles. The common local mosquito-borne
disease vectors are:
a disease transmitted by a yellow
fever virus-infected Aedes egypti
feeding on human
yellow fever is not a common disease
in Asia
Mosquito
survey
Malaria
vector To study the distribution of Anopheles.
A larval and an adult survey have been conducted
locally in order to have detailed information
about the growth patterns and distribution
of the local malaria vectors.
Dengue
fever vector
To study the distribution of Aedes albopictus
and Aedes aegypti. Oviposition traps
are set in 38 areas for monitoring the breeding
of these mosquitoes. The percentage of the
oviposition trap found positive with breeding
of these mosquitoes gives the Ovitrap Index
(Number of the ovitrap found positive/Number of ovitraps
collected from the specific area x 100% = Ovitrap Index).
The value of Ovitrap Indexes indicates the extensiveness
of the breeding of the vectors.
Remarks:
The presence of the dengue fever vector,
Aedes albopictus or Aedes aegypti
does not indicate transmission of the disease
will take place. Transmission of the disease
may occur only with the presence of the
vector mosquito and infectious person.
Mosquito prevention
Advice
To the public
The public is advised:
To tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside their premises;
To remove all unnecessary water collection and eliminate the sources;
To change at least every week the water in flower vases and saucers of potted plants to prevent breeding of mosquitoes. The use of saucers should be avoided whenever possible;
To properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquito from accessing the water;
To properly dispose articles that are able to contain water such as empty lunch boxes, cans and tyres;
To stop storing water along morning walk trails or Government land for irrigation;
To make large holes on tyres used as anti-bumping measure in garage to prevent water trapping or use mark(s) on the parking space to prevent bumping instead.
To contact the district pest control offices or PCAS of FEHD, or pest control companies for assistance in mosquito control or prevention.
To install mosquito screen on windows and doors.
To use mosquito net for sleeping if necessary.
To apply insect repellant on the clothes.
To wear light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and long trousers.
To avoid applying odour-producing cosmetics such as perfume/body lotion during outdoor activities.
To the management of construction sites
The management of construction sites is advised:
To assign a staff for the control and prevention of mosquito in the site;
To tidy up the construction site regularly, at least weekly and check for any accumulation of water inside the site;
To remove all unnecessary water collection and eliminate the source(s);
To cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquito from accessing the water;
To render the vertical poles in scaffolding unable to hold water by making holes at the ends or filling them up with sand;
To dispose articles that are able to contain water such as empty lunch boxes, cans, disused articles and tyres into covered container(s) and remove these articles from the site regularly, at least weekly;
To carry out larviciding against mosquito breeding where the breeding sources or potential breeding grounds are inaccessible or could not be eliminated.
To contact the district pest control offices or PCAS of FEHD, or pest control companies for assistance in mosquito control or prevention.
Mosquito
control
Adult
Control
to use mosquito trap for trapping the mosquito
to use mosquito coil or aerosol to kill the mosquito directly
to kill mosquito with electrical device designed for the purpose (Observe the safety precautions in using the device)
Larval
Control
to remove containers with water
to clear stagnant water
to pave/fill uneven ground and/or holes
to apply larvicidal oil or pesticide to kill the larvae
to keep fish which feeds on mosquito larvae
Figures
Anopheles
species
Aedes
species
Culex
species
Fig.
1 Egg of different mosquito species
Culicines
species
Anophelines
species
Fig.
2 Posture of mosquito larva of different species
in breathing
Last revision date: 21-07-2008