Scientific Name:  Culiseta melanura, subgenus Climacura

Common Name:  Dusky encephalitis mosquito

Adults of Culiseta melanura are medium sized dark brown, with a curved down proboscis which is very noticeable. They feed almost exclusively on song birds (Northern Cardinal a favorite), but occasionally will feed on reptiles and humans. Culiseta melanura is important in the transmission of the eastern equine virus; it does not give to humans directly. That is known as a bridge vector, by giving birds the virus then another mosquito comes along gets the virus from the bird then passes it on to humans. The larvae are found in water filled holes in lowland fresh water swamps and depressions created by fallen upturned root masses of fallen trees.

References:  Burkett-Cadena, N.D.  2013.  Mosquitoes of the Southeastern United States.  Tuscaloosa, Alabama: The University of Alabama Press. pp. 152-153.