Which mosquito(s) has a less than 10-20 mile flight variant?

• A. Aedes vexans and Ochlerotatus
• B. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus
• C. Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus
• D. Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae

Answer: (A)

Mosquito dispersal distance varies by species, and some stay close to their breeding sites while others can travel farther with wind or host-seeking. Aedes vexans and Ochlerotatus tend to be localized fighters, meaning they don’t roam far from where they emerge. In practice, they typically disperse only a few kilometers from breeding sites, which is well under a 10- to 20-mile range (roughly under 16–32 kilometers). This limited, neighborhood-scale movement is what places them in the shorter flight-range category.

By comparison, many other mosquitoes in the list are known for broader dispersal. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus can spread farther, often aided by human activity and capable of moving longer distances in search of hosts or breeding sites. Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus also show more extensive movement in many environments. So the pair with the smallest typical flight range is Aedes vexans and Ochlerotatus.