Bug FAQProvoking Mosquito
Aedes provocans · Order: Diptera · Family: Culicidae
Source: Wikipedia
Aedes provocans, the woodland mosquito, belongs to the genus Aedes. It lives in woodland pools and other temporary water bodies in temperate North America, such as Wisconsin. Females bite animals for blood to lay eggs and can transmit West Nile virus.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Aedes provocans is a mosquito species in the genus Aedes.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
Adult females bite animals to draw blood for egg development.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
Control methods are similar to other Aedes mosquitoes and include removing standing water. Use larvicides in breeding sites and protect yourself with insect repellent and protective clothing.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is commonly found in woodland areas.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Adult females bite animals for blood to obtain nutrients for egg production. Both males and females also feed on nectar from blossoms such as Canada plum and pin cherry.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
It passes through four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Females lay eggs in flood-prone woodland pools or temporary water bodies.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to temperate regions of North America, including places like Wisconsin.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 11 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Wisconsin, Michigan, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Do they bite?
Yes, adult females bite animals to obtain blood needed for laying eggs.
Source: Wikipedia
Can they spread disease?
They are known vectors of West Nile virus, which can infect people and animals.
Source: Wikipedia
Where are they found?
They live in woodland areas of North America, such as Wisconsin, where temporary pools form.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I control them around my home?
Eliminate standing water, apply larvicides to breeding sites, and use insect repellent and protective clothing.
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_provocans
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.