Which habitat is typical for floodwater mosquitoes such as Aedes vexans?

• A. Standing water
• B. Floodwater (temporary)
• C. Tree holes
• D. Brackish marshes

Answer: (B)

Floodwater mosquitoes rely on temporary pools that form after rainfall and flooding. Aedes vexans lays eggs on damp soil along riverbanks or in low-lying areas; those eggs can survive dry periods and hatch when floodwaters rise. The larvae develop quickly in shallow, ephemeral water, where predators are few and nutrients are enough to support rapid growth. This transient habitat is the hallmark of their life cycle, producing large swarms after floods. In contrast, tree holes are typical breeding sites for other container-breeding mosquitoes, brackish marshes suit salt-tolerant species, and permanent standing water does not provide the brief, flood-driven conditions these mosquitoes need.