Aedes

AEDES, a genus of mosquitoes with many species, family Culicidae, is divided into subgenera: Finlaya Theo, Ochlerotatus Arrib., Ecculex Felt., Aedes Mgn., Stegomyia Theo. Reproducing in enormous numbers, Aedes and other blood-sucking diptera make extensive areas in Siberia and in the European part of the USSR inaccessible for habitation and cultural development. The parasitological significance includes: A. (Steg.) albopictus Skuse - carrier of Filaria bancrofti (causative agent of elephantiasis) and A. (Steg.) argenteus Poiret (A. calopus) - carrier of Leptospira icteroides (causative agent of yellow fever). Of the Stegomyia species within the USSR, A. (S.) albopictus (Caucasus and Turkestan) and A. (S.) argenteus (southern half of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus) are known, where it has been found in residential houses, on clothing hangers, on dark window frames, ceilings, etc. The sensation of a sting from this species lasts 2-3 days. A. argenteus lays eggs in any collections of water (barrels and cisterns, puddles, etc.). The female lays up to 120 eggs singly (Sukhumi). After 2-3 days, larvae emerge, which transform into pupae in 9-12 days. The pupal stage lasts 40-72 hours. Adult mosquitoes in the laboratory survive up to 100-150 days. A. arg. is easily spread passively - this mosquito was introduced to the Caucasus by steamships. The introduction of yellow fever into the USSR with this mosquito has not yet been observed.