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Common Mosquitoes That Can Spread Disease in Massachusetts
| Mosquito Species Name | When are they most active? | Where do they live and what kind of water do they like? | What types of animals do they bite? | What time of year are they most common? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aedes vexans | Dusk/dawn, night | River floodplains and salt marshes – temporary flooded areas | Mammals / humans | Summer and early fall |
| Coquillettidia perturbans | Dusk/dawn, night | Woodlands – cat-tail marshes | Birds, mammals / humans | Summer |
| Culex pipiens | Dusk/dawn, night | Urban areas – artificial containers | Birds, occasionally mammals / humans | Summer and early fall |
| Culex restuans | Dusk/dawn, night | Urban areas – natural and artificial containers | Birds, occasionally mammals / humans | Spring, summer, and fall |
| Culex salinarius | Dusk/dawn, night | Salt marshes – brackish and freshwater wetlands | Reptiles, birds, mammals / humans | Summer |
| Culiseta melanura | Dusk/dawn, night | Woodlands – white cedar and red maple swamps | Birds, occasionally mammals / humans | Spring and summer |
| Ochlerotatus canadensis | Dusk/dawn, day | Woodlands – woodland pools | Birds, mammals / humans | Late spring through summer |
| Ochlerotatus japonicus | Day | Urban areas – natural and artificial containers | Mammals / humans | Summer through fall |
For information on diseases spread by mosquitoes and how to prevent them, contact the MDPH Division of Epidemiology and Immunization at (617) 983-6800 or visit the MDPH Arbovirus website.
This document was developed in conjunction with the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control Board and the Massachusetts Mosquito Control Projects. Updated April 2018.
MDPH Arbovirus InformationTick Information and Prevention
Diseases Transmitted by Ticks
Pets and Tick Safety
Dogs and cats often come into contact with ticks when they are outside. Like humans, pets can get sick with tick-borne diseases. In addition, pets can transport ticks from outside the home to inside, where the ticks may then bite people.
Dogs can also be infested by the brown dog tick, which occurs across the United States and is unique in that it can infest indoor spaces such as homes and kennels.
Watch your pet closely for changes in behavior or appetite if you know or suspect that it has been bitten by a tick. Signs of tick-borne disease may not appear for 7 to 21 days or longer after a tick bite.
Except for Lyme disease in dogs, pets cannot be vaccinated against tick-borne diseases. Talk to your veterinarian about tick-borne diseases in your local area, or if you are considering a Lyme disease vaccine for your dog.
Dogs are very susceptible to tick bites and tick-borne diseases. Vaccines are not available for most of the tick-borne diseases dogs can get, and they do not prevent dogs from bringing ticks into your home. For these reasons, it is important to use a tick preventive product on your dog.