Mosquitoes in Tennessee
Which Types of Mosquitoes Live in Tennessee?
Over 200 types of mosquitoes live in the United States and its territories. However, of these 200+ species, only about 12 spread pathogens that can be dangerous to humans.
Below is a list of the most common disease-carrying mosquito species in our state. Click on the title of each mosquito below to see its scientific name, where it is generally distributed in the U.S., and which diseases it transmits in Tennessee. For more information on the different species of mosquitoes, see the CDC's Mosquitoes in the United States web page.
Scientific name: Aedes japonicus
Distributed: Eastern and Midwestern United States as well as in the Pacific Northwest
Transmits: La Crosse encephalitis virus
Scientific name: Aedes triseriatus
Distributed: Throughout the eastern half of the United States
Transmits: La Crosse encephalitis virus
Scientific name: Culex pipiens
Distributed: Northern half of the United States
Transmits: West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, eastern equine encephalitis virus
Scientific name: Culex tarsalis
Distributed: Across the continental United States, except for the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states, and southern Florida
Transmits: West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, western equine encephalitis virus
Scientific name: Aedes aegypti
Distributed: Southern and Pacific southwestern United States
Transmits: Zika virus, dengue virus, chikungunya virus, yellow fever virus
Scientific name: Aedes albopictus
Distributed: Eastern, Midwestern, and Southern United States
Transmits: La Crosse encephalitis virus, Zika virus, dengue virus, chikungunya virus
Scientific name: Anopheles quadrimaculatus
Distributed: Throughout the eastern half of the United States
Transmits: Malaria
Scientific name: Culex quinquefasciatus
Distributed: Southern half of the United States
Transmits: West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, eastern equine encephalitis virus
Scientific name: Culex restuans
Distributed: Throughout North America, except parts of the west.
Transmits: West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, eastern equine encephalitis virus
Where are These Mosquitoes Located in Tennessee?
Although different mosquito species vary in their environmental preferences, all types of mosquitoes tend to live near still bodies of water such as lakes and ponds, as this is where they lay eggs and raise their larvae and pupae. Additionally, if you live in an area that is prone to flooding, you are also at an increased risk to encounter large populations of mosquitoes should flooding occur.