The Levels of Classification of Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes can be classified in a variety of ways, including by sex, subspecies and through the animal kingdom they are a member of. Throughout the world there are over 4,000 species of mosquito , with around 150 of these species found in the U.S.

  1. Insects

    • The mosquito is classified as an insect, from the classification Insecta, belonging to the order of Diptera, according to the New Mexico Department of State. As with other insects, mosquitoes are identified by their three body parts of head, thorax and abdomen. Insects also have a hard exoskeleton and six long, jointed legs. The Diptera order of insects are commonly known as the true flies, with the majority of true flies having two wings.

    Species

    • Each mosquito species is given a scientific name, beginning with the word Culex, meaning a related species of mosquito. Within this grouping of mosquitoes there are three subfamilies of mosquito, which are Toxorhynchitinae, Anophelinae and Culicinae. The majority of the world's 4,000 mosquito species are classified within the Culicinae. Around 400 of the world's species of mosquitoes are identified within the Anophelinae group, which are common malaria-carrying species of mosquito. The Toxorhynchitinae group is made up of a single species of mosquito; this mosquito is not capable of piercing the skin of humans to suck blood through its curved proboscis and is only capable of sucking nectar from plants.

    Sex

    • Mosquitoes can be classified by sex, with males and females of the species differing in their body parts and ability to bite animals. The female of most mosquito species is responsible for biting humans and other animals through the long proboscis attached to the head of the insect. The female injects an anti-clotting agent into the animal to stop the wound from clotting and to restrict the flow of available blood. Male mosquitoes are not capable of piercing skin as their proboscis is not equipped for biting; the male simply sucks nectar from plants. The female mosquito is therefore the common carrier of diseases, such as malaria, west Nile virus, dog heartworm and yellow fever. These diseases can be carried from one host animal to another by the female mosquito.

    Identification

    • The life cycle of the mosquito takes is four stages, which are egg, larvae, pupa and adult. The classification and identification of mosquitoes are commonly completed in the larvae and adult phases of the life cycle. Once identified, certain species of mosquito can be used for their predatory characteristics; some U.S. Gulf Coast states use the larvae of the Toxorhynchitinae to feed on the eggs and larvae of other species of mosquito to control the populations.