Photos

Mosquitoes in extreme close-up

With the help of an electron microscope, zoom in for an extreme close-up on the leg, proboscis and antennae of the enemy of a good night's sleep and potential disease vector: the brown house mosquito.

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These spectacular images were taken by Dr Ian Kaplin, from the Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility at the University of Sydney, and interpreted with the help of Dr Cameron Webb, clinical lecturer at the University of Sydney and hospital scientist with Pathology West - ICPMR Westmead.

When it's not under an electron microscope, the brown house mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) is pretty plain-looking.

"Probably the most distinguishing features of this mosquito is that it commonly comes inside the house and, in most instances, it is the mosquito you're most likely to hear buzzing in your ear at night," says Webb.

It is found right across Australia, and is actually one of the most common mosquitoes across the world.

The mosquito lives in urban environments and lays its eggs in polluted water such as stormwater drains and sullage pits as well as bird baths, buckets and blocked gutters around the home.

In Australia, the brown house mosquito is not considered as important has other species that transmit pathogens such as dengue.

"One of the reasons the brown house mosquito it isn't considered as important as other species is that it generally prefers to bite birds rather than people," says Webb.

But, he says, it may play a role in transmitting some pathogens.

"Pathogens including Murray Valley encephalitis virus, Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus have been isolated from specimens collected in the field," says Webb.

Internationally, the mosquito has been implicated in the transmission of pathogens that cause West Nile virus disease, lymphatic filariasis and avian malaria.

You can read more about Webb's research at his blog or follow him on twitter @mozziebites.