Bug FAQAedes scapularis
Aedes scapularis · Order: Diptera · Family: Culicidae
Source: Wikipedia
Aedes scapularis is a mosquito native to neotropical regions of the Americas. It now breeds in artificial water containers in urban areas. Adults are most active at dusk, though they are also active during the day and night, and they bite humans, carrying yellow fever and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
It bites humans and can transmit yellow fever, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, and other pathogens.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Originally a forest species, it now breeds in artificial water containers in cities.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
It is active both day and night but peaks during the evening crepuscular period.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is primarily found in neotropical parts of the Americas.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Some Aedes species have been reclassified as Ochlerotatus, and Aedes scapularis is sometimes included in that revision.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 2 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Florida.
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
What diseases can they spread?
They can carry yellow fever and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus.
Source: Wikipedia
When are they most active?
They are most active during the evening crepuscular period, though they are also active during day and night.
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_scapularis
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 2026-10-23.