Aedes hendersoni is a species of mosquito in the genus Aedes, closely related to Aedes triseriatus. Native to North America, it commonly inhabits natural and artificial containers such as treeholes and discarded tires. Although it is a potential vector of La Crosse virus, its role in disease transmission is limited compared to Aedes triseriatus. Its distribution, ecological behavior, and interactions with sympatric species have made it a subject of interest in entomological and ecological studies.
Aedes hendersoni is widely distributed across North America. It shares much of its range with Aedes triseriatus in the eastern United States and parts of southern Canada, but it extends farther west. Its range includes southeastern British Columbia, eastern Washington and Oregon, northern Nevada and Utah, and as far south as eastern Colorado, New Mexico, and mid-northern Texas. It is typically absent from peninsular Florida, most of Maine, and extreme southern Texas. A. hendersoni is most commonly found in deciduous or mixed forests, utilizing water-holding treeholes or man-made containers as larval habitats.[1]
Behavior and ecology
Aedes hendersoni typically breeds in treeholes and artificial containers such as tires and buckets. It often co-occurs with Aedes triseriatus, especially in the eastern U.S. Research has shown that when both species are present (sympatry), A. hendersoni tends to oviposit in canopy-level habitats, while A. triseriatus prefers basal-level habitats—a pattern attributed to interspecific competition. In regions where A. hendersoni occurs alone (allopatry), it shows a greater tendency to oviposit in basal habitats, suggesting that vertical habitat preferences are flexible and competition-driven.[1]
Larvae of A. hendersoni can be distinguished from those of A. triseriatus by their larger, more uniform sausage-shaped gills, compared to the tapered, unequal gills of A. triseriatus.[2]
Medical significance
Aedes hendersoni is a potential vector of the La Crosse virus, which can cause pediatric encephalitis in humans. However, its vector competence is limited due to a salivary-gland escape barrier, making it less efficient than A. triseriatus in transmitting the virus.[3] It has also been found feeding on a variety of hosts, including humans, dogs, horses, cats, and white-tailed deer, suggesting a potential—albeit limited—role in zoonotic transmission.[4]
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