339. Northern Frog-Biting Mosquito

I thought that I had just coincidentally happened upon a mosquito on a frog--but as it turns out, this mosquito (Culex territans) specializes in feeding on amphibians. I had no idea that this was a thing! It turns out that there are many species of mosquitoes that do. This species is found across much of the northern hemisphere, with records across southern B.C. The first time on Vancouver Island was noted in 2006.during surveys  for potential vectors for West Nile Virus. Even though they were found, the incidence of this species feeding on mammals is very low with one study indicating that over 75% of al blood meals were frogs and toads, then next most frequently reptiles and then very few records of blood meals on mammals or birds.

They generally do not travel far from their breeding sites, where they prefer clean fresh water with some emergent vegetation. The females will lay their eggs  in waterbodies where they have cued in on male frogs calling in the spring. They also are guided to their blood meals by listening for frog calls.  

The frog this one choose is a Pacific Treefrog highlighted as species #38 (​https://leaningoaks.ca/a-species-a-day/38-pacific-treefrog).

A few references: 
​Bhosale, C.R., Burkett-Cadena, N.D. and Mathias, D., 2023. Northern frog biting mosquito Culex territans (Walker 1856)(Insecta: Diptera: Culicidae): EENY-803/IN1394, 3/2023. EDIS, 2023(2).
​Peach, DAH. 2018. An updated list of the mosquitoes of British Columbia with distribution notes. J Entomol Soc BC 115: 126–129
Stephen, C. Plamondon, N. and Belton, P. 2006. Notes on the Distribution of Mosquito Species That Could Potentially Transmit West Nile Virus on Vancouver Island, British Columbia," Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 22(3), 553-556.