Originally written as "C. 5-fasciatus", the name refers to five (quinque) black, broad, transverse bands ("fasciatus" or "fasciae") on the mosquito's dorsal abdomen.

[4][5] Smith et al. 2004 develop an assay specifically for this complex and use it to confirm that it does encompass this species.

The saddle is barrel-shaped and located on the ventral side of the abdomen, with four long anal papillae protruding from the posterior end.

[2] Mature C. quinquefasciatus females fly at night to nutrient-rich standing water to lay eggs.

[2] The larvae feed on organic material in the water and require between five and eight days to complete their development at 30 °C (86 °F).

In optimum temperature and humidity, the lifecycle will be completed in seven days, passing through the egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages.

[10] Known hosts include birds (Aves), cattle (Bos taurus), dogs (Canis familiaris), Equus including donkeys (E. asinus), cats (Felis), mice (Mus musculus), house sparrows (Passer domesticus), rats (Rattus) and boars (Sus scrofa).

quinquefasciatus is now found throughout subtropical and tropical areas worldwide, including the Americas, Australia and New Zealand,[12] except for exceedingly dry or cold regions.

[7] It transmits zoonotic diseases that affect humans and wild and domestic animals, such as lymphatic filariasis, avian malaria, St. Louis encephalitis, Western equine encephalitis, and West Nile fever, and may be a vector of the Zika virus.

In India and Southeast Asia, it is the primary vector of Wuchereria bancrofti, a nematode that causes lymphatic filariasis.

It acts as an intermediate host for the helminth parasite by harbouring the larval stages.