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Culex pipiens
Unlike mosquito species that lay eggs singly, Culex lays eggs in a floating 'raft' of 100-300 eggs—resembling a speck of soot on the water surface. Egg rafts → larvae (wrigglers) → pupae (tumblers) → adults. Complete cycle in 10-14 days in warm weather.
Females require blood meals for egg production. Both sexes feed on nectar. Prefer birds but bite humans.
Breed in strictly stagnant water rich in organic matter. A forgotten cup of water in the backyard is sufficient breeding habitat—they don't need a pond. Common sites: catch basins, bird baths, clogged eavestroughs, discarded tires, unused pools, and any water-holding container. Thrives in urban environments.
Adults entering through gaps to feed, especially in bedrooms.
Itchy welts on exposed skin after sleeping.
Larvae visible in bird baths, buckets, or clogged gutters.
Wing beat frequency creates distinctive sound near ears.
Abundant in urban areas across southern Canada. Primary nuisance and disease vector.
Crepuscular (most active at dusk and dawn) and nocturnal—they create the high-pitched whine heard in bedrooms at night. Active May-September outdoors. Unlike many mosquito species that die off, Culex females can overwinter as adults in basements, sewers, crawl spaces, and other sheltered locations in Canada.
Barrier spray treatments on vegetation reduce adult resting sites. Larviciding in breeding areas. Most effective as part of integrated municipal program.
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