An exotic mosquito species example?

• A. Culiseta domestica
• B. Anopheles punctipennis
• C. Culex tarsalis
• D. Aedes albopictus

Answer: (D)

Exotic mosquitoes are non-native species that have been introduced to a new region and established populations there, often spreading rapidly because they can adapt to urban environments and new habitats. Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, is a classic example: it originated in Asia and has been introduced to the Americas and other continents, where it now lives in many urban and suburban areas and can transmit viruses such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. This makes it an exotic or invasive species in many parts of the United States, including Maryland.

The other species listed are native to North America. Culiseta domestica is the common house mosquito; Anopheles punctipennis is a native malaria vector in parts of the U.S.; Culex tarsalis is native to the western United States. Because they are established in North America through natural dispersal rather than human-facilitated introduction, they are not exotic.