Culex fatigans is a species of mosquito found in many parts of the world, including Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. The spelling of this word can be broken down using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as "kuːlɛks fətɪɡənz". The first syllable "ku" is pronounced like the word "cool", the "ɛks" sound is similar to "ex", and the second word "fatigans" is pronounced "fətɪɡənz". This specific mosquito is known to carry dangerous viruses such as dengue fever, Zika virus, and West Nile virus.
Culex fatigans, commonly known as the southern house mosquito, is a species of mosquito belonging to the Culicidae family. This mosquito is typically found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide and is known to be a significant vector for several arboviruses and parasites, including the causative agent of filariasis diseases.
Culex fatigans is a medium-sized mosquito with a slender body that measures approximately 3 to 4 mm in length. It is characterized by its brownish-black coloration and long, narrow wings. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with the female mosquitoes being larger and easily distinguished from the smaller males.
Female Culex fatigans mosquitoes are notorious for their role in disease transmission. They have a preference for biting humans, mainly during the evening and night hours. The females require a blood meal to develop and lay their eggs. Unfortunately, during this feeding process, they can transmit diseases such as lymphatic filariasis and Japanese encephalitis.
Control measures targeting Culex fatigans mosquitoes often include the use of insecticides, larvicides, and the elimination of breeding sites, which are typically stagnant water sources. Given their ability to survive in various environments and their adaptability, effective and integrated pest management strategies are crucial for reducing the population of Culex fatigans mosquitoes and the transmission of diseases they carry.
The brown household mosquito of the tropics and subtropics; believed to be the intermediate host of several species of filaria and of the contagium vivum of dengue.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.