Sabethes species

Sabethes mosquitoes co-transmit sylvatic yellow fever alongside Haemagogus in Central and South American rainforests. They are among the most visually striking mosquitoes in the world — iridescent blue, purple, and green scales with distinctive paddle-shaped tufts on their legs used in elaborate courtship displays.

Like Haemagogus, they bite during the day, most actively around midday, and inhabit the forest canopy. They are less commonly encountered than Haemagogus but share the same habitat and host-preference profile, maintaining yellow fever virus in forest monkey populations.

Risk to travellers follows the same pattern: sylvatic transmission in South American forests, with urban spillover possible via Aedes aegypti in unvaccinated populations.