Editorial photo #11119739 Human Interest

Armigeres Mosquito - Animal India

Armigeres mosquito (Armigeres sp.) is a genus of mosquitoes belonging to the Culicidae family. Some species of Armigeres can raise their hind legs to create an egg. Adults of Armigeres are morphologically similar to species of other Aedine generic-level taxa in the Oriental and Australasian regions, but they are generally larger and usually have the proboscis slightly curved downwards and flattened laterally. Armigeres species are associated with lowland and dipterocarp forests but are never found in primary forests. Many species of Armigeres attack humans. For example, Armigeres subalbatus is a species complex of zoophilic mosquitoes found in Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh. It can carry parasites and viruses that cause diseases in humans, including malaria, Japanese encephalitis, and filariasis. It is also a potential vector for the Zika virus. Armigeres subalbatus is part of the Culicinae subfamily and is similar in morphology and genetic phylogeny to Aedes mosquitoes. It feeds on blood from both humans and animals and thrives in areas near human habitation. Armigeres subalbatus was originally associated with forests but now thrives in rural and suburban areas. An Armigeres mosquito is resting under a leaf in a forest in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on 04/04/2024. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto)