Aedes

 ( Insects Described In 1818 ) 

Aedes (also known as the tiger mosquito

) is a genus of originally found in tropical and subtropics, but now found on all except Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: Aedes albopictus, a particularly invasive species, was spread to the Americas, including the United States, in the 1980s, by the used-tire trade.

It was first described and named by Germans entomologist Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1818; the generic name comes from Ancient Greek ἀηδής (aēdēs), meaning 'unpleasant' or 'odious'. The type species for Aedes is Aedes cinereus..

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Systematics and phylogeny The genus was named by Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1818. The generic name comes from the Ancient Greek ἀηδής, aēdēs, meaning 'unpleasant' or 'odious'.

As historically defined, the genus contains more than 950 species (see the list of Aedes species). The genus has been divided into several subgenera ( Aedes, Diceromyia, Finlaya, Stegomyia, etc.), most of which have been recently treated by some authorities as full genera. The classification was revised in 2009.

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Characteristics Aedes mosquitoes are visually distinctive because they have noticeable black and white markings on their bodies and legs. Unlike most other mosquitoes, they are active and bite only diurnality. The peak biting periods are early in the morning and in the evening before dusk.

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As disease vectors Members of the genus Aedes are known vectors for numerous viral infections, including dengue fever, yellow fever, the Zika virus, and chikungunya, which are transmitted by species in the subgenus Stegomyia such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Infections with these viruses are typically accompanied by a fever, and in some cases, encephalitis, which can lead to death. A vaccine to provide protection from yellow fever exists, and measures to prevent mosquito bites include such as DDT, mosquito traps, , , and pest control using genetically modified insects. In Polynesia, the species Aedes polynesiensis is responsible for the transmission of human lymphatic filariasis.

Aedes can be detected and monitored by .

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Sequencing The genome of the yellow fever mosquito ( Aedes aegypti) was sequenced by the Broad Institute and the Institute for Genomic Research. The initial assembly was released in August 2005; a draft sequence of the genome and preliminary analysis was published in June 2007. The annotated genome is available at VectorBase. An updated and improved version of the Aedes aegypti genome was released in 2018.

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See also

• List of Aedes species

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External links

• Singapore Government dengue site that describes the mosquito

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