Mosquitoes, members of the Culicidae family, are small flies with slender segmented bodies, a pair of wings, three pairs of long hair-like legs, and elongated mouthparts. While male mosquitoes are harmless and only feed on nectar and plant juices, female mosquitoes of certain species are blood-feeders, transmitting diseases such as malaria, dengue, West Nile fever, and chikungunya.
Let's dive into the differences between a dengue mosquito and a regular mosquito.
Dengue mosquitoes fall under the Aedes genus. The females of this genus are vectors for various diseases, including yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika fever. They can be identified by their distinctive black and white markings on their bodies and legs, with A. albopictus and A. aegypti being the primary disease-transmitting species. These mosquitoes are active during the day, especially at dawn and dusk, and lay their eggs in stagnant water. Dengue symptoms include fever, headache, joint pain, and rash. Using mosquito repellants, nets, and traps can help prevent bites from these mosquitoes.
A regular mosquito, unlike its dengue counterpart, does not transmit dengue. These mosquitoes also belong to the Culicidae family and resemble midges in appearance, measuring between 3-6mm in length. Female regular mosquitoes have a proboscis, a long, tube-like mouthpart used for feeding on the blood of vertebrates and invertebrates. Some females require a blood meal for egg development, while others can reproduce without it. Regular mosquitoes are typically active at dawn and dusk and thrive in temperatures between 15-25℃.
Dengue Mosquito |
Regular Mosquito |
| Description | |
| Dengue mosquitoes carry dengue virus in their saliva. | Regular mosquitoes are part of the Culicidae family and do not carry the dengue virus. |
| Appearance | |
| They are marked by black and white stripes on their bodies and legs. | They resemble midges and are 3-6mm in length. |
| Feeding Time | |
| They feed during the day. | They feed at dawn or dusk. |
| Egg Laying | |
| They lay eggs in stagnant water. | They lay eggs in stagnant water, along water edges, or on aquatic plants. |
| Bite Sensation | |
| A dengue mosquito's bite is often unnoticed. | A regular mosquito's bite is usually felt and can be painful. |
| Habitat | |
| They primarily live indoors and cannot survive in cold climates. | They can be found both indoors and outdoors and thrive in temperatures of 15-25℃. |
For more information, visit the Biology page.
Additional Resources:
How can we identify dengue mosquitoes?
The dengue mosquitoes have characteristic black and white markings throughout their body, and legs and the females are slightly larger than the males.
Is one mosquito bite enough for dengue?
Yes, one mosquito bite is enough to make you infected with dengue.
What does a dengue rash look like?
A dengue rash looks like small red spots that cannot be felt upon touching.
What are the warning signs of dengue?
The warning signs of dengue include: Abdominal pain, Laziness, Enlargement of the liver, Vomiting, Rapid decrease in platelet count.