Mosquito Biology and Control

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to mosquito biology, their role in disease transmission, and control methods.

Culicidae

The family name for mosquitoes.

Holometabolous

A type of insect development characterized by distinct larval and adult stages.

Anophelinae

A subfamily of mosquitoes that includes species primarily responsible for transmitting malaria.

Culicinae

A subfamily of mosquitoes that primarily transmit arboviruses.

Oviposition

The process of laying eggs.

Eclosion

The process in which an insect emerges from its egg.

DEET

A common active ingredient in insect repellents effective against mosquitoes.

Host seeking

The behavior by which mosquitoes locate their blood host through various signals.

Larval instars

Developmental stages between molts in insects, particularly in the larval stage of mosquitoes.

Biological control

A method of controlling mosquito populations using their natural predators.

Malaria

A disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes.

Ecdysteroidogenic Hormone (OEH)

A hormone involved in controlling mosquito reproduction and egg maturation.

Toxorhynchites

A genus of mosquitoes known as elephant mosquitoes, which do not feed on blood.

Area spraying

A control method involving the application of insecticides over a wide area to kill adult mosquitoes.

Insecticide-treated bed nets (LLIN)

Nets impregnated with insecticides that provide significant protection against mosquito bites.

Resistance status

The classification indicating the susceptibility of mosquito populations to various insecticides.