Twin-spot Centurion vs Western Encephalitis Mosquito
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Twin-spot Centurion | Western Encephalitis Mosquito |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sargus bipunctatus | Culex tarsalis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Stratiomyidae | Culicidae |
| Size | 8-13 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Wetlands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Western North America, from Canada to Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Twin-spot Centurion
A metallic bronze-green soldier fly with two characteristic pale spots on the frons. It is one of the most common stratiomyids in Europe, found basking on ivy flowers in autumn.
Did You Know?
It is one of the last flies to be active in autumn, still visiting ivy flowers well into November.
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.