General Intermittent Habitats

Intermittent or transient water habitats can be found spread throughout the NJ’s five physiographic provinces, and many provide prime habitat for Ae. vexans, the most abundant mosquito species found in NJ Light Trap samples. These habitats support a wide diversity of floodwater mosquitoes, or mosquitoes who’s eggs require a drying period followed by a wetting period to initiate hatching. The intermittent nature of these pools means that there is no time for natural predator populations to establish, making continued control or landscape manipulation of the site essential for mosquito suppression. The transient pools include general woodland pools and road side ditches to the more specialized tidal salt marsh pools and snow pools, and the photos below will walk you through the more general transient water habitats that can be found in any NJ county.

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292 — Poor landscaping resulting in a low sport in a yard can become a veritable nursery for mosquito larvae. Photo credit: Dr. Diana Carle

281 — An area within a wetlands like this and prone to flooding should be extra mindful of filling depressions in the road and field like this. Photo credit: Dr. Diana Carle

268 — Low spots in a lawn that have been continually eroded by rainfall and created a large network of intermittent pools for mosquito breeding. Photo credit: Dr. Diana Carle

281 — Any unevenly roads or lawns in a wetlands area are especially prone to accumulating water and creating intermittent pools. Photo credit: Dr. Diana Carle

248 — A simple depression in a dirt road might be overlooked as just a mud puddle, when in fact it is prime mosquito breeding habitat. Photo credit: Dr. Diana Carle

264 — A roadside field with a depressed area creates a choice intermittent mosquito habitat. Photo credit: Dr. Diana Carle

Woodland pools can produce massive numbers of mosquitoes, especially within an extensive wetlands like this one. Photo credit: Dr. Diana Carle

146 — Unevenly laid concrete can create ample mosquito habitat. Photo Credit: Dr. Diana Carle

152 — Fields in the lowlands lasting for a week or more can become a prime breeding spot for many floodwater mosquitoes. Photo credit: Dr. Diana Carle

266 — A shallow ditch in a stone road can also pose a risk for mosquito breeding. Photo Credit Dr. Diana Carle

258 — Forested roadside ditches provide abundant nutrients for mosquito larvae from the plentiful decaying plant matter in the water. Photo credit: Dr. Diana Carle

263 — Dirt or stone roads prove especially prone to developing potholes which can breed mosquitoes. Photo credit: Dr. Diana Carle

259 — Tire ruts on a dirt road can result in transient pool habitats. Photo credit: Dr. Diana Carle

226 — Poorly maintained roads creating a number of mosquito habitats. Photo credit: Dr. Diana Carle

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