General
Slender long-legged insect with forward-pointing piercing and sucking mouth parts.
Adults are 7-15mm long with a wing span much the same as the body length.  Wings have well-developed venation and sometimes have a fringed hind margin and the veins also have scales associated with them. Male antennae are heavily covered in long hairs which are absent in female. Females lay eggs on water.

Significance
Mosquitoes encountered in Europe and North America do not transmit any serious diseases, despite the females being blood-feeders. In some cases there can be a severe reaction to the blood meal having been taken. Secondary infection may result in quite significant wounds.

Control    
Treatment consists of the use of residual insecticides and space sprays. Indoors fly screening and the use of UV light traps is indicated.