Swamp Cicada vs Western Encephalitis Mosquito
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Swamp Cicada | Western Encephalitis Mosquito |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Neotibicen tibicen | Culex tarsalis |
| Order | Hemiptera | Diptera |
| Family | Cicadidae | Culicidae |
| Size | 30-38 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Wetlands |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Eastern and central United States | Western North America, from Canada to Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Swamp Cicada
A large dark cicada with green markings and a loud droning call heard in late summer. It is often called the morning cicada because it frequently calls during morning hours.
Did You Know?
Unlike most cicadas that call in afternoon heat, it often sings during cooler morning and evening hours.
Western Encephalitis Mosquito
A medium-sized mosquito with a distinctive white band on the proboscis and banded legs. It is the most important vector of Western equine encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis in western North America. It breeds in a wide variety of sunlit and shaded water sources.
Did You Know?
Its feeding behavior shifts seasonally from birds in spring to mammals in late summer, which drives encephalitis virus spillover to humans.