Home > Illustration > Wildlife > Invertebrates > Pond Insects > Common House Mosquito

Common House Mosquito

Common House Mosquito line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Common House Mosquito full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The Common House Mosquito was completed on 6.1.2011. The original drawing was commissioned by a design house in about 2003 to go on the cover of a newsletter for the Mayo clinic, with a corresponding article about the West Nile Virus. The illustration was modified then the coloring tinting added. Of course, when drawing an insect that everyone dislikes, it can be challenging to try and draw out the interesting anatomical features of the animal. The eye is about the only color that stands from drab browns and grays of the body and legs. I feel I did about all I could with the subject matter.

Information about the Common House Mosquito:

The Common House Mosquito is a member of the family Culicidae. They are small insects, only about 1/4 of an inch long (4 mm) They are known as one of the worst pests to humankind, and beyond being an annoying nuisance these insects have likely been responsible for the deaths of millions of humans, as they have spread malaria, yellow fever, and other deadly infectious diseases. The adults are sexually dimorphic, with the female being much smaller than the males. The female are also the only ones who sting and draw blood. The males feed on plant juices and sap.