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Yellow Fever MosquitoAedes aegypti

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Yellow Fever Mosquito profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 61 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Zettel Nalen & Kaufman

Zettel Nalen & Kaufman. Yellow Fever Mosquito Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) (Insecta: Diptera: Culicidae). EDIS, University of Florida IFAS Extension.

The page saysA mosquito about a quarter of an inch long
The source saysThe adult yellow fever mosquito is a small to medium-sized mosquito, approximately 4 to 7 m (~1/4 in).Note: tagline; the page prints 'm' for mm, ~1/4 in is the unambiguous figure
The page sayswhose yellow fever cost U.S. troops more casualties than enemy fire in the Spanish-American War
The source saysDuring the Spanish-American War, U.S. troops suffered more casualties from yellow fever transmitted by Aedes aegypti than from enemy fireNote: tagline
The page saysTropical and subtropical regions worldwide, thriving in towns and cities
The source saysAedes aegypti is now present globally in tropical and sub-tropical regions.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysTropical and subtropical regions worldwide, thriving in towns and cities
The source saysThey thrive in urbanized areas, in close contact with people making them an exceptionally successful vector.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysPlant nectar; females also drink blood, mainly human
The source saysMale and female adults feed on nectar of plants; however, females bloodfeed primarily on humans in order to produce eggsNote: stats.diet
The page saysNot Evaluated
The source saysThe yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus), has been a nuisance species in the United States for centuries.Note: stats.conservationStatus; no IUCN Red List assessment exists: GBIF and Crossref show none (checked 2026-09-29). Quote is a page line about the species as the carrier.
The page saysDeadly
The source saysThe most deadly is dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), which is often fatal.Note: stats.dangerLevel
The page saysDeadly
The source saysIn 1981, Cuba experienced a major DHF outbreak, killing 159 peopleNote: stats.dangerLevel
The page saysThe yellow fever mosquito, *Aedes aegypti*, is about a quarter of an inch long.
The source saysapproximately 4 to 7 m (~1/4 in)Note: the page prints 'm' for mm; ~1/4 in stated
The page saysAn adult lives from two weeks to a month, depending on conditions.
The source saysThe adult life span can range from two weeks to a month depending on environmental conditions
The page saysBoth sexes drink plant nectar.
The source saysMale and female adults feed on nectar of plants
The page saysFemales also bite, mostly people, to get the blood they need for making eggs.
The source saysfemales bloodfeed primarily on humans in order to produce eggs
The page saysAfter a full blood meal, a female produces 100 to 200 eggs per batch on average
The source saysAfter taking a complete blood meal, females produce on average 100 to 200 eggs per batch
The page saysup to five batches in her life.
The source saysFemales can produce up to five batches of eggs during a lifetime.
The page saysEach egg is about 1 mm long. It is white when laid but turns shiny black within minutes.
The source saysapproximately 1 mm (1/32 in) long. When first laid, eggs appear white but within minutes turn a shiny black.
The page saysThe eggs can survive drying out for months. They hatch once they are submerged in water, which makes the species hard to control.
The source saysAedes aegypti eggs can survive desiccation for months and hatch once submerged in water, making the control of Aedes aegypti difficult
The page saysThe larvae that hatch, like other mosquito larvae, are often called "wrigglers."
The source saysMosquito larvae are often called "wrigglers" or "wigglers,"
The page saysThey breathe through a siphon held above the surface and eat algae and other tiny organisms.
The source saysLarval Aedes aegypti breathe oxygen through a posteriorly located siphon, which is held above the water surface
The page saysThey breathe through a siphon held above the surface and eat algae and other tiny organisms.
The source saysLarvae feed on organic particulate matter in the water, such as algae and other microscopic organisms.
The page saysThe pupae, nicknamed "tumblers," move but do not feed, and the pupal stage lasts about two days.
The source saysPupae, also called "tumblers," do not feed and take approximately two days to develop.
The page saysThe pupae, nicknamed "tumblers," move but do not feed, and the pupal stage lasts about two days.
The source saysthe pupae are mobile and respond to stimuli
The page saysIt often breeds in containers such as unused flowerpots, spare tires and rain barrels.
The source saysYellow fever mosquitoes are container-inhabiting mosquitoes; often breeding in unused flowerpots, spare tires, untreated swimming pools, and drainage ditches.
The page saysIt often breeds in containers such as unused flowerpots, spare tires and rain barrels.
The source saysRain barrels around the home are prime breeding locations for the yellow fever mosquito
The page saysStopping containers around the home from collecting water is one of the most successful and cost-effective ways to cut numbers.
The source saysone of the most successful and cost-effective methods to reducing populations is by preventing containers around the home from collecting water.
The page saysU.S. troops suffered more casualties from yellow fever spread by *Aedes aegypti* than from enemy fire.
The source saysU.S. troops suffered more casualties from yellow fever transmitted by Aedes aegypti than from enemy fire
The page saysthis mosquito is the primary vector of yellow fever
The source saysAs the name suggests, the yellow fever mosquito is the primary vector of the yellow fever virus.
The page saysA vector is an animal that carries a disease from one host to another.
The source saysthe primary vector of yellow feverNote: definition of a general term, not a source claim
The page saysIn 1981 an outbreak in Cuba killed 159 people.
The source saysIn 1981, Cuba experienced a major DHF outbreak, killing 159 people
The page saysIt bites readily during the day, indoors and out.
The source saysAedes aegypti readily bite during the day and indoors as well as outdoors.
The page saysThe species began in Africa.
The source saysOriginating in Africa, Aedes aegypti is now present globally in tropical and sub-tropical regions.
The page saysToday it lives in tropical and subtropical regions across the globe, and it thrives in urban areas.
The source saysAedes aegypti is now present globally in tropical and sub-tropical regions.
The page saysToday it lives in tropical and subtropical regions across the globe, and it thrives in urban areas.
The source saysThey thrive in urbanized areas
The page saysAdults of both sexes drink plant nectar. Females also take blood, mostly from humans, to produce eggs.
The source saysMale and female adults feed on nectar of plants; however, females bloodfeed primarily on humans in order to produce eggs

Source
02

Walker et al. 2021

Walker et al. (2021). Modeling the effects of Aedes aegypti’s larval environment on adult body mass at emergence. PLOS Computational Biology.

The page saysIn one lab experiment, females weighed 0.69 to 3.35 mg on emerging as adults.
The source saysmass at emergence, which ranged from 0.69 to 3.35 mg
The page saysIn one lab experiment, females
The source saysThe mass of adult females, but not males, was recorded using a high precision analytical balance

Source
03

McBride et al. 2014

McBride et al. (2014). Evolution of mosquito preference for humans linked to an odorant receptor. Nature.

The page saysA "domestic" form of the species has evolved to specialise in biting humans.
The source saysA 'domestic' form of the mosquito Aedes aegypti has evolved to specialize in biting humansNote: body
The page saysAlong the coast of Kenya it lives alongside an ancestral "forest" form that prefers to bite other animals.
The source saysThe domestic form coexists with an ancestral, 'forest' form that prefers to bite non-human animals and is found along the coast of Kenya.
The page saysIn the domestic form, a smell receptor called AaegOr4 is expressed more strongly and is more sensitive to a compound found at high levels in human odour.
The source saysthe evolution of preference for human odour in domestic mosquitoes is tightly linked to increases in the expression and ligand-sensitivity of the odorant receptor AaegOr4, which we found recognizes a compound present at high levels in human odour
The page saysIts human-biting domestic form evolved a preference for our odour.
The source saysA 'domestic' form of the mosquito Aedes aegypti has evolved to specialize in biting humansNote: faq 2
The page saysIn lab colonies, that preference is tightly linked to one smell receptor gene, AaegOr4, which domestic mosquitoes express more strongly.
The source saysthe evolution of preference for human odour in domestic mosquitoes is tightly linked to increases in the expression and ligand-sensitivity of the odorant receptor AaegOr4Note: faq 2
The page saysIn lab colonies
The source saysWe collected the two forms, established laboratory colonies, and document striking divergence in preference for human versus non-human animal odour.Note: faq 2
The page saysThe receptor recognises a compound present at high levels in human odour.
The source sayswhich we found recognizes a compound present at high levels in human odourNote: faq 2

Source
04

O'Brien 2010

O'Brien (2010). ARS Study Provides a Better Understanding of How Mosquitoes Find a Host. USDA Agricultural Research Service.

The page saysDetects the left-handed or right-handed form of a chemical in mammal odour
The source saysAe. aegypti taps into the "right-handed" and "left-handed" structural nature of octenol, which is emitted by people, cattle and other mammals.Note: stats.superpower
The page saysOne clue is octenol, a compound that people, cattle and other mammals give off.
The source saysoctenol, which is emitted by people, cattle and other mammals
The page saysOctenol comes in a "right-handed" and a "left-handed" form, which are mirror images.
The source saysOctenol is one of many carbon-based compounds that have a molecular structure that can take on either a "right-handed" or "left-handed" form. Each form is a mirror image of the other
The page saysScientists put mosquito RNA into frog eggs and measured the electrical signals.
The source saysThey injected RNA from Ae. aegypti into the frog eggs
The page saysScientists put mosquito RNA into frog eggs and measured the electrical signals.
The source saysrecorded the electrical signals stimulated by the odors
The page saysThe cells responded more strongly to the right-handed form.
The source saysThe scientists found heightened electrical activity when the membrane was exposed to the right-handed form, and weakened activity when it was exposed to the left-handed form.
The page saysThey find a meal by chemistry.
The source saysWhen they hunt for a blood meal, mosquitoes hone in on a variety of chemicals, including carbon dioxide, lactic acid, ammonia and octenol.
The page saysOctenol comes in right-handed and left-handed forms that are mirror images
The source saysAe. aegypti taps into the "right-handed" and "left-handed" structural nature of octenol, which is emitted by people, cattle and other mammals.Note: vibe.reason
The page saysthis mosquito's smell cells respond more strongly to the right-handed one
The source saysThe scientists found heightened electrical activity when the membrane was exposed to the right-handed form, and weakened activity when it was exposed to the left-handed form.Note: vibe.reason

Source
05

Kraemer et al. 2015

Kraemer et al. (2015). The global distribution of the arbovirus vectors Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. eLife.

The page saysA 2015 mapping study of this species and its relative *Aedes albopictus* found the pair's distributions to be the widest ever recorded, now extensive on all continents.
The source saysWe show Aedes distributions to be the widest ever recorded; now extensive in all continents, including North America and Europe.Note: the study covers Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus together; the sentence gives the record to the pair, dated to the study

Source
06

Hoffmann et al. 2011

Hoffmann et al. (2011). Successful establishment of Wolbachia in Aedes populations to suppress dengue transmission. Nature.

The page saysIn Australia, scientists released mosquitoes carrying a bacterium, Wolbachia, into two wild populations. Within a few months the bacterium had reached near-fixation, meaning almost every mosquito there carried it.
The source sayssuccessfully invaded two natural A. aegypti populations in Australia, reaching near-fixation in a few months following releases of wMel-infected A. aegypti adultsNote: 'almost every mosquito there carried it' glosses near-fixation (infection frequency near 100%)
The page saysOne candidate is Wolbachia, a bacterium passed from mother to offspring.
The source saysthis maternally-inherited agent provides a powerful mechanism to invade natural populationsNote: faq 3
The page saysPut into mosquitoes, it interferes with the transmission of disease.
The source saysWhen Wolbachia are introduced into mosquitoes, they interfere with pathogen transmissionNote: faq 3
The page saysThe team behind releases in two wild Australian populations concluded that Wolbachia-based strategies can be a practical way to suppress dengue, with potential for use across whole areas.
The source saysThese findings demonstrate that Wolbachia-based strategies can be deployed as a practical approach to dengue suppression with potential for area-wide implementationNote: faq 3
The page saysreleases in two wild Australian populations
The source sayssuccessfully invaded two natural A. aegypti populations in AustraliaNote: faq 3

Source
07

World Health Organization fact sheet

Dengue and severe dengue. World Health Organization fact sheet.

The page saysIt also spreads dengue.
The source saysThe dengue virus is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
The page saysMost infections are mild
The source saysMost people with dengue have mild or no symptoms and will get better in 1-2 weeks.
The page saysbut severe dengue can kill: more than 12,000 dengue deaths were reported to the World Health Organization in 2024
The source saysDuring 2024, ongoing transmission, combined with an unexpected spike in dengue cases, resulted in a historic high of over 14.6 million cases and more than 12 000 dengue-related deaths reported.
The page saysdangerLevel: Deadly
The source saysRarely, dengue can be severe and lead to death.Note: stats.dangerLevel, task #986: Deadly is a capability; the bite transmits a virus that kills, and the same sheet names Aedes aegypti as the primary vector. Replaces EDIS's 'DHF often fatal', older terminology that overstates the rate

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.