Mosquitoes of Hawai'i

This is a quick guide to the invasive mosquito fauna of Hawai'i.

There are six species of non-native biting mosquitoes now naturalized in Hawai'i, four day-biting species and two night-biting species. Malaria-transmitting Anopheles mosquitoes are occasionally found in Hawai'i but have not established. The Elephant mosquitoes are naturalized in Hawai'i, but these are non-biting large mosquitoes whose larvae prey upon other mosquito larvae.

Amongst the day-biting species, the brightly patterned black-and-white striped mosquitoes you may see in the lowlands of Hawai'i are the two biggest threats to human health: First, the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is found in wet vegetated areas statewide from beach parks to mountain sides at mid elevations. It is easily identified by the black-and-white striped legs coupled with a single white stripe down the thorax (the 'back' of the mosquito). Second, the Yellow Fever Mosquito (Aedes aegypti) can be distinguished by its black-and-white legs and lyre or violin shaped marking on the thorax. This is the species depicted in the banner for this guide and the accompanying 'Mosquitoes of Hawai'i' project. These two species were introduced one after the other between 1890 and 1900 and the distribution of the latter species was reduced by a vector control campaign in the middle of the last century. It is now regularly found only on leeward Big Island (the island of Hawai'i), but keep your eyes out -- several have been found around the airport in Oahu! More recently, around 2004, another black-and-white species, the 'rock-pool' mosquito Aedes japonicus was found on the Big Island. This species overlaps with the Asian Tiger Mosquito and can be distinguished by its golden pattern on the thorax. Usually found at higher elevations it prefers cool moist forests. It is now spreading to other Hawaiian islands where we have observed it on the mountainsides of Lanai and Maui.

Amongst other day-biting species, Wyeomyia mitchellii has long uniform (not striped) legs. The hind-legs are often held in a characteristic arching forward manner while biting. It also has a two toned abdomen with dark top and white undersides. This species was first noted in Hawai'i around 1980 and can be found buzzing around breeding sites including bromeliads, pineapple lilies or other plants that hold water.

The night-biters include the Southern House Mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus). This generally brownish species was first introduced around 1826 and is an important vector of avian malaria, a health threat to native birds. A floodwater breeding species Aedes vexans nocturnus, is also a night biter that was first noted in the early 1960s. This brown species has striped legs helping distinguish it from Culex quinquefasciatus.

Vectors of human malaria Anopheles mosquitoes have been found several times in Oahu but have not established. The very large Elephant Mosquitoes (Toxorhychites spp.) were introduced between 1929 and 1953 for mosquito biocontrol since their larvae prey on the larvae of other mosquitoes. They do not blood feed as adults. For a recent historical overview of Mosquitoes in Hawai'i see Winchester and Kapan (2013).

There are many websites with more information. For Hawai'i specific information a nice summary that was useful in preparing this guide can be found here:

http://www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil/health/DPW-MosquitoesBulletin.pdf

For information on mosquito transmitted disease in Hawai'i see:
http://health.hawaii.gov/docd/dib/disease/mosquito-transmitted-diseases/

Winchester, J. C., & Kapan, D. D. (2013). History of Aedes mosquitoes in Hawai'i. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 29(2), 154–163. doi:10.2987/12-6292R.1 less ↑