A genus of mosquitoes that includes disease-carrying species, most famously the yellow fever and dengue fever mosquito.
From Greek 'aedes' meaning 'unpleasant' or 'odious', chosen because these mosquitoes were considered particularly annoying. The genus was formally named in 1818, with Aedes aegypti being its most infamous species.
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have literally shaped human history—they spread yellow fever, dengue, and Zika, causing countless deaths and even influencing military campaigns! One tiny insect genus has been responsible for more human suffering than most infectious diseases, yet most people have never heard the name.
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