Culiseta melanura

Lowland freshwater swamps, specifically acid water in dark "crypts" created by tree roots (cypress, Atlantic white cedar, or red maple) and sphagnum moss mats.

• Adult: A medium-sized, dark mosquito that generally resembles Culex species in shape. It is named for its dark-colored abdomen, though some segments may have narrow yellow-white light bands. It possesses an unusually long, curved, dark-scaled proboscis. The thorax is bronze-brown or golden-brown on top, with speckled white patches on the sides.

• Larva: These larvae are dark with a very long, narrow siphon (breathing tube) that does not taper significantly. A unique trait of this genus is a pair of setae (hair-like structures) at the very base of the siphon.

• Pupa: Comma-shaped with two horn-like respiratory trumpets. They are distinguished by long setae on the second abdominal segment and a second seta at the tip of the swimming paddle.

Eastern North America from Maine and southern Quebec to Florida, west to eastern Texas and northeastern Mexico.

Primarily feeds on songbirds (maintenance cycle); occasionally bites mammals (humans, deer, raccoons, dogs, cats) and reptiles.

Overwinters in the larval stage.

Principal enzootic vector of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus; West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in this species.