Mosquito Watch: submit a mosquito
If you have seen a mosquito in the UK, you can report it using the form on this page. You can also send us samples of mosquitoes you have collected.
Key statistics
Since 2005, 1,025 submissions have been made to Mosquito Watch.
The most reported mosquito species is Culiseta annulata, a widespread, large, and conspicuous mosquito, commonly misidentified as the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus).
Culex pipiens (s.l.), colloquially known as the ‘common house mosquito’, is also widely reported. Particularly in autumn, as female Culex pipiens (s.l.) mosquitoes will begin to enter garages, sheds, and homes to overwinter as the weather gets cooler.
No invasive mosquito species have been detected through the scheme, though incursions have been detected by other surveillance schemes.
Why we collect mosquitoes
Mosquito Watch is a passive surveillance scheme, which aims to:
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fill gaps, and enhance existing data, on the distribution of British mosquitoes
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identify which species are responsible for nuisance biting, the environmental circumstances which cause nuisance biting incidents, and the impact of nuisance biting on affected communities
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detect invasive mosquito species
UKHSA relies on members of the public, entomologists, researchers, ecology consultants, wildlife groups, and others to submit mosquitoes to the scheme. We do not routinely test mosquitoes for any pathogens they may carry, and we cannot provide advice on mosquito-borne illnesses.
Report a mosquito
You can report a mosquito, or submit a photograph, using this online form:
Sending mosquitoes to us by post
You can also send us any mosquitoes you have collected, along with your reference number generated by completing the online form, to the address below.
When posting mosquitoes, please note:
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if you collect more than one mosquito from different habitats or locations, they should be placed in separate labelled containers.
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if you collect more than one mosquito from the same habitat on the same day, they can be sent in one container.
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live mosquitoes should be placed in a container and put in the freezer for 10 minutes in order to kill them.
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the mosquitoes should then be sent as soon as possible to the address below, along with your reference number generated by completing the online form.
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send any mosquitoes collected in a crush-proof, plastic container (like an old camera film case, or, alternatively, plastic vials can be supplied on request to the address or email below).
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all specimens sent will be identified and we will reply by email.
Send to:
Mosquito Watch
Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology
UK Health Security Agency
Porton Down
Salisbury
SP4 0JG
Email: mosquito@ukhsa.gov.uk
Postage costs
It should cost approximately £1.50 to £3.50 to submit a mosquito to Mosquito Watch when using the correct shipping materials and method. Although this will depend on how many mosquitoes you are sending or the size of the tubes you are sending them in.
Below are some suggested shipping methods, using Royal Mail:
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large letter (maximum thickness 2.5cm, max 100g) - our usual vials in a small padded envelope will fit this category
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small parcel (maximum thickness 16cm) - larger containers, for example, universal tubes used by vets, will need to go in this category
See Post Office price finder for up-to-date postage costs.
It is not necessary to post specimens using ‘signed for’ or ‘special delivery’.
The Mosquito Recording Scheme
The Mosquito Recording Scheme collects, combines, and enhances existing data on the distribution of all British mosquitoes to fill the gaps in our current understanding of mosquito distributions. Data generated through the Mosquito Watch scheme is included. All records are available from the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway for research and public use.
Main resources for The Mosquito Recording Scheme:
Updates to this page
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Updated content.
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Digitised the reporting form and updated branding to UKHSA.
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First published.