Which mosquito is the dominant salt marsh mosquito found in Maryland and along the northern and mid-Atlantic seaboard?

• A. Anopheles quadrimaculatus
• B. Ochlerotatus sollicitans
• C. Culiseta melanura
• D. Aedes aegypti

Answer: (B)

The dominant salt marsh mosquito in Maryland and along the northern and mid-Atlantic seaboard is the salt marsh mosquito that thrives in brackish marshes—Ochlerotatus sollicitans (often listed as Aedes sollicitans). This species is specifically adapted to coastal, saline environments and forms large populations in salt marsh habitats along the Atlantic coast, making it the characteristic coastal mosquito in this region. The other species prefer different habitats: Anopheles quadrimaculatus is more common in clean freshwater pools, Culiseta melanura breeds in freshwater swamps and is tied to forested wetlands, and Aedes aegypti is an urban container breeder.