What is the Asian Tiger Mosquito?

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Asian tiger mosquito, or Aedes albopictus, is known for its black and white, striped, legs and body, and is approximately 0.25 inches long.

It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia, but in recent decades this species has invaded many countries around the world through the movement of goods and the increase in international travel. This mosquito has become a major pest in many communities because it closely associates with humans (rather than live in wetlands), and flies and feeds in the day as well as dusk and dawn. The insect is called the asian tiger mosquito because of its location and appearance stripes like a tiger. Aedes albopictus is an important vector for the transmission of many viral pathogens, including West Nile virus, yellow fever, St. Louis encephalitis, dengue fever and Chikungunya fever, and several filarial nematodes such as Dirofilaria immitis. These mosquitoes lay their eggs in water full of natural and artificial containers, such as cavities in trees and old tires. They mainly lay their eggs in ditches and swamps. Asian tiger mosquitoes usually do not fly more than about a half of a mile from its breeding grounds.

In 1894, an Anglo-Australian entomologist, Frederick A. Askew, references the first to scientifically describe the Asian tiger mosquito, which he called Culex albopictus. Later, the case was assigned to the genus Aedes and discussed as Aedes albopictus. As the yellow fever mosquito, it belongs to the subgenus Steomyia. In 2004, researchers examined the high-level relations and proposed a new classification of Aedes Stegomyia and raised at the genre, making now Aedes albopictus Stegomyia Albopicta. However, this is a controversial subject, and the use of Aedes albopictus vs Stegomyia Albopicta is constantly debated.

The tiger mosquito entered the United States in shipments of used tires in Northern Asia in mid-1980. It can survive in a wide range of climates and has spread rapidly since the point of first detection in the states. Before its first successful invasion of southern U.S., this mosquito was first detected and eradicated in California in 1971 and 1987. In 2001, the asian tiger mosquito was found in two north and four counties in Southern California. This mosquito did not spread to California during the invasion of Eastern and Central Europe, but was introduced in the State in shipments of ornamental bamboo (“Lucky Bamboo”) of southern China. Rapid detection of the introduction and control efforts led to the spread of this species throughout California. The tiger mosquito is a very effective mosquito from a variety of pathogens that cause diseases in humans and domestic animals, especially horses and dogs.

Health Risks of the Asian Tiger Mosquito

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The Asian tiger mosquito is an aggressive biter, and feeds mainly during the day. It has a wide host range, including humans, domestic and wild animals and birds. This is a particularly aggressive insect during its feeding period and if it lands on you, the bug is so fast that you will have no opportunity to swat it.

In some southern cities, the tiger mosquito has become a major nuisance mosquito, the main one. Recapping, Asian tiger mosquitoes invaded the United States in 1985, and the species is widespread in over 20 states since then. Tiger mosquito is a vector of major diseases in Asia. In the United States, it was found to have LaCrosse encephalitis virus and West Nile virus, which can cause encephalitis (brain inflammation). However, it is presently unclear whether the tiger mosquito is a major vector of disease in the United States. West Nile virus was detected in that kind of U.S. Eastern Tiger Mosquito.

It is also important in veterinary medicine. For example, tiger mosquitoes are transmitters of Dirofilaria immitis, a parasitic worm that causes heartworm disease in dogs and cats year round. It is the potential vector of encephalitis, dengue (all four serotypes), yellow fever, filariasis and dog. This mosquito is a vector of LaCrosse encephalitis and Eastern equine encephalitis viruses.

The asian tiger mosquito is also a competent vector of encephalitis viruses regularly inspected two to California, St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus and western equine encephalomyelitis. However, recent studies suggest that levels of naturally infected avian hosts are generally insufficient to infect mosquitoes. Therefore, it might not be as big a threat for transmission of SLE in California, especially compared to the Culex mosquito. SLE is a viral disease that is often very severe in young children and the elderly by attacking the central nervous system, sometimes causing death. Yellow fever is a potentially deadly disease that has not been established in the United States or in areas adjacent to it. Although the tiger mosquito has been researched as a vector of pathogenic viruses from several relevant laboratories, there is no evidence to date that this mosquito has caused human illness in the United States

The tiger mosquito was responsible for the epidemic of Chikungunya in Reunion Island from the French in 2005-2006. In September 2006, there were 266,000 people infected and 248 died on the island. It was the transmitter of the virus in the first outbreak of the only Chikungunya fever in the European continent. This outbreak occurred in the Italian province of Ravenna, in the summer of 2007 and infected more than 200 people. It was concluded that the mutated strains of Chikungunya virus was directly transmitted by the Aedes albopictus, and the further spread of the disease in areas where the tiger mosquito lives is now feared.


Characteristics of the Asian Tiger Mosquito

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The Asian tiger mosquito is about 2-10 mm long, and has a beautiful black and white pattern. The variation in the body size of adult mosquitoes depends on the population density of the larvae, food supplies, and water purification. Because these conditions are rarely optimal, the average size of the adult mosquitoes is much smaller than 10 mm. For example, the average length of the belly is between 2.63 mm and 2.7 mm, and the wings measure 1.88 mm. This was studied in 1962 for both male and female mosquitoes.

Males are 20% smaller than females, but are morphologically very similar. But as in all mosquito species, the antennae of males is larger than females and contains auditory receptors to detect the characteristic hum of females. Palpation of the top male are longer than the trunk, while palpation of the upper jaw of female is much shorter. Other features do not distinguish between the sexes.

The body is dark with silvery scales. The compound eyes are clearly separated from each other. Scutum, the dorsal part of the insect thoracic, stretches along the central line is a black and white. The side of the thorax, scutellum, and the abdomen also have silvery white scales.

Tergites on segments II to VI of the abdomen are dark and have an almost triangular silver-white marking on them. The lower abdomen is full of bands with silvery scales. They also have transparent wings, which have white spots at the base of the coast. With older mosquito samples, the results may be partially dissipated by the features mentioned above and are very different.

Aedes albopictus, a male species, is a length of about 2-10 mm. Since the family is part of the mosquito family, the female has a long snout, which is used to collect the blood supply of their eggs. Tiger (female) mosquito is quick, and can escape most people trying to hit it. However, the male member of the species feeds mainly on nectar.

The female lays her eggs near water, not directly to other mosquitoes, but generally close to the stagnant pool. The water has to be open enough for larvae to develop. The asian tiger mosquito lives a short duration (less that 200m) to the breeding grounds they were born at.

Life Cycle of the Asian Tiger Mosquito

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The worm-like larvae swim by rotating, and are also known as “wrigglers”. Approximately 10 days after hatching, the larvae are about 1/4-inch long and reach full maturation. Then they go into a comma-shaped enclosure, called “tumblers,” because of their movement in water when annoyed. the pupa phase complements the development into an adult mosquito. When they are fully developed, adult mosquitoes should be on the surface of each of the cocoons. Adult mosquitoes emerge from pupae in just 10-14 days after the eggs hatch in summer.

The Asian Tiger Mosquito stay overwinter in the egg stage, then into the larvae stage when the eggs are covered with water, during spring and summer. The larvae feed on small particles of dirt and bacteria in the water.

Male mosquitoes feed on plant juices and don’t bite humans, similar to most species of mosquito. Female mosquitoes seek blood to help develop their eggs. Unlike many other mosquitoes from Illinois, the Asia Tiger mosquito feeds during daylight. Like other mosquitoes they are attracted to dark clothes, carbon dioxide, sweat, and other specific odors. Mosquitoes won’t hesitate to bite squirrels, dogs, deer and other animals in addition to humans. About four or five days after feeding on blood, the female mosquito lays its eggs. She will lay them just above the water surface in a rigid container such as a tree holes, old buckets, or tires. When the rain covers the eggs with water, the eggs will hatch.

Asian Tiger Mosquito Outbreak

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Asian tiger mosquito were native to Southeast Asia. Since 1967, it has spread to Europe, America, Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East. The tiger mosquito is considered the world’s worst invasive species, according to the Global Invasive Species Database. The tiger mosquito is not native to Australia and New Zealand. In fact, the species has been introduced several times to the two, but has yet to stabilize.

The Asian tiger mosquitoes arrived in Albania in 1979, where they were apparently introduced by a transfer of goods from China. In 1990-1991, they expanded to Italy. Since 1999, they settled on the mainland of France, mainly in the south of France. In 2002, they have also been found in a holiday town on the island of Corsica, but not fully established there until 2005. In autumn 2007, the first eggs of tiger mosquito were found in Rastatt (Germany). Shortly before that they were in the northern part of the Alps in Switzerlandamd in the canton of Aargau. Two were observed in Britain in the summer of 2007, as reported. It was also found in Malta during the summer of 2010.

The Asian tiger mosquito were found in North America, shipped in used tires from the Port of Houston in 1985. Since then they have spread throughout the southern United States, and as far to the east coast of Maine. This species has been introduced to Hawaii as well, but was there even before 1986. By 1999, it was said to be established in over 25 states.

It has been said that global warming will increase the outbreak of these mosquitoes, and researchers are doing all they can to control the Asian tiger mosquitoes, as they are carriers of deadly diseases. For some examples, check out the links below.

Asian mosquito carries deadly disease to Britain
Chikungunya outbreak in Thailand
Dengue Fever Outbreak Hits Hawaii

Asian Tiger Mosquito Control & Prevention

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The Asian tiger mosquito have been shown to be very difficult to suppress or manage because of their unique ability to adapt to different environments, their close relationships with people, and their reproductive biology.

The destruction of the Asian tiger mosquitoes begins with destroying the places where they lay their eggs, which are never far from the place where people get bitten because of their short flight duration, only flying about a radius of 200 yards from where they were born. Find pools holding more than three days, sag or clogged gutters, old tires retain water, litter, bird baths, give way to the drainage of standing water and all other containers possible to get rid of stagnant water. Flower pots, vases standing and other crevices that can collect water should be filled with sand or fine gravel to prevent mosquitoes from laying their eggs. Litter can also keep rainwater and must removed. Any standing water in ponds, watersheds, etc., that can not be drained or dumped, are periodically treated with insecticides that are properly labeled.

Running water will not be fertile ground and water with minnows are usually not a problem because fish eat mosquito larvae. Dragonflies are also a great way to establish control. Dragonfly larvae eat mosquito larvae in water, and adults would snatch adult mosquitoes as they fly.

To date, there are some effective traps for adult Asian tiger mosquitoes. Most traps specific to other species of mosquitoes do not catch the tiger mosquito effectively. A new type of trap is shown to take a number on the asian tiger. This device, with the help of a ventilator, produces a smell of fatty acids and lactic acids, which gives off a similar smell to the human body.

If you are having trouble with Asian Tiger Mosquitoes, we recommend the Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap.

Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps were developed after an extensive worldwide testing program. One of our primary objectives was to develop a trap which would attract and capture the Asian Tiger mosquito which is a voracious daytime biter.

There are over 3500 different species of mosquitoes but it is the Asian Tiger which is regarded as the most invasive mosquito species in the world. It is medically significant because of its aggressive daytime human-biting behavior and ability to transmit debilitating, even deadly diseases with a single bite. In laboratory settings it has been found to be a successful vector of over 30 arboviruses including Dengue fever, Encephalitis, Chikungunya and West Nile virus – a serious, life-altering and even fatal disease.

We engaged Professor Yap Han Heng from the Vector Control Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, University Sains Malaysia to advise on and test Mega-Catch™ trap designs in South East Asia. Tests that he carried out in a reserve forest at Minden Campus, University Sains Malaysia in the Penang Island in June 2000 caused him to conclude that Mega-Catch™ was effective against the Asian Tiger mosquito in outdoor conditions in tropical environments.

Unlike conventional mosquito traps which rely on various chemicals to attract mosquitoes, Mega-Catch™ traps employ a range of visual stimuli to attract mosquitoes. This is particularly important in the case of daytime biters like the Asian Tiger mosquito which rely more on visual cues, and less on chemical cues, to find their hosts.

However, the new patent pending Mega-Catch™ 3000 combo lure has been designed to enhance trap performance and to provide even better capture rates of targeted mosquito species like the Asian Tiger. The combination lure incorporates synthetic Octenol, lactic acid and other ingredients specifically formulated then blended to attract the Asian Tiger mosquito and other nuisance mosquitoes, sand flies, black flies and biting midges (no-see-ums).

Research conducted using traps baited with a combination of Octenol and lactic acid, has reported the capture of various mosquito species including the Asian Tiger, was TWO to THREE times greater than traps baited with Octenol alone.

“We feel that you can use attractants in a trapping strategy to divert mosquitoes away from biting people,” says USDA entomologist Dr Daniel Kline. “If you can keep them from biting people you can stop the disease transmission”. (Seed Magazine, June 15, 2009)

Mega-Catch™ traps come fully assembled – simply install, connect to power, switch on and let Mega-Catch™ go to work.

http://www.megacatch.com/asian_tiger_mosquitoes.html