Bug FAQMitchell's Mosquito
Aedes mitchellae · Order: Diptera · Family: Culicidae
Source: Wikipedia
The mosquito is native to the southeastern United States and extends from New York to New Mexico, most common in the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains. Larvae grow in fresh, temporary rain-filled pools such as puddles, ditches, and newly dug holes. Females are known as severe biters, making them a nuisance to people.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Adults look similar to Aedes sollicitans and are often caught in light traps.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
Adult females are described as severe biters, indicating they readily bite people.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
The larvae develop in fresh water found in temporary rain-filled pools, ditches, and other short-lived water bodies.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae live in fresh, temporary water pools where they feed and develop.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
In the far southern part of its range, the mosquito can be found throughout the year after rains.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
In the extreme south the species is present year-round following rainfall.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Originally collected in southern Georgia and Florida, the species now ranges across the coastal plains of the southeastern U.S., up to New York in the north and west to New Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
They are frequently mistaken for Aedes sollicitans because of their similar appearance.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 12 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Delaware.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Do they bite people?
Yes, adult females bite people and are considered severe biters.
Source: Wikipedia
Where are Mitchell's Mosquitoes found?
They are native to the southeastern United States, ranging from New York to New Mexico, especially along the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains.
Source: Wikipedia
What kind of water do their larvae need?
The larvae develop in fresh, temporary rain-filled pools such as puddles, ditches, and newly dug holes.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell them apart from similar mosquitoes?
They look much like Aedes sollicitans and are often caught in light traps, so identification can be tricky without close examination.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Culicidae)
Asian Tiger MosquitoAedes albopictusCan spread germs or disease
House Mosquito ComplexCulex pipiensCan spread germs or disease
Yellow Fever MosquitoAedes aegyptiCan spread germs or disease
Inland Floodwater MosquitoAedes vexansCan spread germs or disease
Asian Bush MosquitoAedes japonicusCan bite
Southern House MosquitoCulex quinquefasciatusCan spread germs or diseaseSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aedes_mitchellae
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.