''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: '' Aedes albopictus'', a particularly

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

, was spread to the New World, including the United States, in the 1980s, by the used-tire trade. First described and named by

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

entomologist Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arach ...

Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1818, the generic name comes from the Ancient Greek ἀηδής, ''aēdēs'', meaning "unpleasant" or "odious". The type species for ''Aedes'' is '' Aedes cinereus''..

Systematics and phylogeny

The genus was named by Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1818. The generic name comes from the Ancient Greek ἀηδής, ''aēdēs'', meaning "unpleasant" or "odious". As historically defined, the genus contains over 700 species (see the list of ''Aedes'' species). The genus has been divided into several

subgenera In biology, a subgenus (plural: subgenera) is a taxonomic rank directly below genus. In the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between t ...

(''Aedes'', '' Diceromyia'', '' Finlaya'', ''Stegomyia'', etc.), most of which have been recently treated by some authorities as full genera. The classification was revised in 2009.

Characteristics

''Aedes'' mosquitoes are visually distinctive because they have noticeable black and white markings on their bodies and legs. Unlike most other mosquitoes, they are active and bite only during the daytime. The peak biting periods are early in the morning and in the evening before dusk.

Direct children of this genus

The genus contains 28 species that are not placed in a further subgenus: *'' Aedes daliensis'' *''

Aedes mallochi ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: ''Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive sp ...

'' *'' Aedes alticola'' *'' Aedes auronitens'' *'' Aedes australiensis'' *''

Aedes biocellatus ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: '' Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive ...

'' *''

Aedes britteni ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropics, subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: ''Aedes albopictus'', a particularly i ...

'' *'' Aedes candidoscutellum'' *''

Aedes crossi ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: ''Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive spe ...

'' *''

Aedes eatoni ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: ''Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive spe ...

'' *''

Aedes gracilelineatus ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: '' Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive ...

'' *'' Aedes keefei'' *''

Aedes peipingensis ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: '' Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive ...

'' *'' Aedes koreicoides'' *''

Aedes lauriei ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: '' Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive ...

'' *''

Aedes monocellatus ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: '' Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive ...

'' *'' Aedes oreophilus'' *'' Aedes plagosus'' *''

Aedes quasirubithorax ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: ''Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive sp ...

'' *''

Aedes roai ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: ''Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive spe ...

'' *'' Aedes rubiginosus'' *''

Aedes sintoni ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: ''Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive spe ...

'' *''

Aedes stanleyi ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: '' Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive ...

'' *'' Aedes subauridorsum'' *''

Aedes toxopeusi ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: ''Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive spe ...

'' *''

Aedes tsiliensis ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: ''Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive spe ...

'' *''

Aedes versicolor ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: '' Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive ...

'' *'' Aedes wasselli''

As disease vectors

Members of the genus ''Aedes'' are known vectors for numerous viral infections, including

dengue fever Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms typically begin three to fourteen days after infection. These may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characterist ...

, yellow fever, the Zika virus, and chikungunya, which are transmitted by species in the subgenus ''

Stegomyia ''Stegomyia'' is a large subgenus of the mosquito genus ''Aedes'' with 131 species classified in six species groups (group uncertain for one species), two groups of which are further divided into subgroups. Bionomics and disease relations The ...

'', and by '' A. aegypti'' and '' A. albopictus''. Infections with these viruses are typically accompanied by a fever, and in some cases, encephalitis, which can lead to death. A vaccine to provide protection from yellow fever exists, and measures to prevent mosquito bites include

insecticide Insecticides are substances used to kill insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against insect eggs and larvae, respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and by consumers. Insecticides are claimed to b ...

s such as DDT, mosquito traps, insect repellents,

mosquito net A mosquito net is a type of meshed curtain that is circumferentially draped over a bed or a sleeping area, to offer the sleeper barrier protection against bites and stings from mosquitos, flies, and other pest insects, and thus against the di ...

s, and pest control using

genetically modified insect A genetically modified (GM) insect is an insect that has been genetically modified, either through mutagenesis, or more precise processes of transgenesis, or cisgenesis. Motivations for using GM insects include biological research purposes and g ...

s. In Polynesia, the species ''

Aedes polynesiensis ''Aedes polynesiensis'' (also known as the Polynesian tiger mosquito) is only found in the South Pacific on the islands of Austral Islands, Cook Islands, Ellice Islands, Fiji Islands, Hoorn Islands, Marquesas Islands, Pitcairn Island, Samoa Isl ...

'' is responsible for the transmission of

human lymphatic filariasis Lymphatic filariasis is a human disease caused by parasitic worms known as filarial worms. Usually acquired in childhood, it is a leading cause of permanent disability worldwide. While most cases have no symptoms, some people develop a syndrom ...

. ''Aedes'' can be detected and monitored by

ovitrap An ovitrap is a device which consists of a dark container containing water and a substrate where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. The eggs then fall through the mesh into the water, where the larvae hatch and develop into pupas. When the adult mosqu ...

Sequencing

The genome of the yellow fever mosquito ('' Aedes aegypti'') was sequenced by the Broad Institute and

the Institute for Genomic Research The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) is a non-profit genomics research institute founded by J. Craig Venter, Ph.D. in October 2006. The institute was the result of consolidating four organizations: the Center for the Advancement of G ...

. The initial assembly was released in August 2005; a draft sequence of the genome and preliminary analysis was published in June 2007. The annotated genome is available at

VectorBase VectorBase is one of the five Bioinformatics Resource Centers (BRC) funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is an agency of the United States Departm ...

. An updated and improved version of the ''Aedes aegypti'' genome was released in 2018.

References

External links

Singapore Government dengue site that describes the mosquito
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q310911 Mosquito genera Taxa named by Johann Wilhelm Meigen