Aedes vexans (Meigen) by Wayne J. Crans, Rutgers University
Aedes vexans is a primary pest of humans and other mammals from early summer to the fall. The species overwinters in the egg stage and requires flooding of the habitat to hatch. However, not all eggs of this multivoltine species will hatch in a single flooding. The species adapts to all types of freshwater habitats, including temporary rain-filled or flood-filled pools, and irrigation seepage water. A. vexans is suspected in the transmission of eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) from birds to humans. In 2000 West Nile Virus (WNV) was isolated in the species. A. vexans is a generally abundant and troublesome biter, and may migrate long distances from its breeding site.