Northern House Mosquito vs Arctic Aphid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Northern House Mosquito | Arctic Aphid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aedes hexodontus | Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum |
| Order | Diptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Culicidae | Aphididae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 1-3 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, northern Siberia | Svalbard, Arctic Scandinavia, Greenland |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Northern House Mosquito
A dark-colored Arctic mosquito with distinctive banding on the abdomen. It breeds in tundra pools and is a major pest species in northern regions. Females are aggressive biters, active even in cool temperatures.
Did You Know?
This species can complete its entire larval development in as little as two weeks in the continuous daylight of Arctic summer.
Arctic Aphid
A small, pale green aphid that is one of the most northerly herbivorous insects on Earth. It feeds on the sap of Dryas octopetala and other Arctic plants. Populations are entirely parthenogenetic in the High Arctic.
Did You Know?
This aphid reproduces entirely without mating in the Arctic, producing live young that are clones of the mother.