Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 1652991

Common House Mosquito

Culex pipiens

Also 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
Common House Mosquito reference1 / 7
Licensed referenceUrmas Tartes / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
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)
Classification
  1. OrderDiptera
  2. FamilyCulicidae
  3. GenusCulex
  4. SpeciesCulex pipiens
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskModerate
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. 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.
Related species
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Found in Collections

Ecosystem chain

Wetland Territory

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