Western Encephalitis Mosquito vs Norfolk Hawker
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Western Encephalitis Mosquito | Norfolk Hawker |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Culex tarsalis | Anaciaeschna isosceles |
| Order | Diptera | Odonata |
| Family | Culicidae | Aeshnidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 62-67mm |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Wetlands |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Western North America, from Canada to Mexico | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
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.
Norfolk Hawker
A large brown hawker dragonfly with distinctive green eyes and a yellow triangle on the second abdominal segment. It is associated with grazing marshes containing the water soldier plant.
Did You Know?
It depends on the water soldier plant for egg-laying, making it vulnerable to the loss of this aquatic plant.