Insect · GBIF taxon 1652991
Common House Mosquito
Culex pipiensAlso known as Northern House Mosquito, House Mosquito
Common house mosquitoes are subtle nocturnal insects whose high-pitched wing hum signals the presence of female blood-seekers. Females require protein-rich blood meals to produce eggs, which they deposit as floating rafts on the surface of stagnant water in gutters, birdbaths, and storm drains. Mated adult females overwinter in dark, humid shelters like basements, caves, and hollow trees before emerging in early spring to restart the breeding cycle.
NocturnalPestUrban Wildlife
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Bird Blood
- Mammal Blood
- Nectar
Predators
- Bats
- Dragonflies
- Aquatic Insects
ThreatsTargeted pesticide use, standing water removal, natural predators
HabitatsUrban areas, suburban yards, wetlands, storm drains, stagnant water bodies
Life span2–4 weeks (females in summer); several months (overwintering females)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderDiptera
- FamilyCulicidae
- GenusCulex
- SpeciesCulex pipiens
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Vector for pathogens like West Nile virus; wear repellent and clear standing water around homes.
- Why it is dangerous
- Females act as vectors for dangerous arboviruses, including West Nile virus and Saint Louis encephalitis, transmitted via blood meals.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a small, dull brown mosquito with pale horizontal bands across its abdominal segments and long, slender legs.
- What to do
- Avoid bites by staying indoors at dusk, using screens on windows, and draining any standing water in gardens or gutters.
Responsible observation
- Breeding Prevention: Dump or cover containers of stagnant water where larvae develop.
- Bite Avoidance: Wear long sleeves and apply DEET or Picaridin repellents near dusk and dawn.
Competitor James Gathany, CDC / Public domain · cc0
Predator (c) Fyn Kynd, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Predator (c) Eugene Zelenko, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative CDC/ James Gathany / Public domain · cc0
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Found in Collections
Ecosystem chain
Wetland Territory
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