Asian Tiger Mosquito Traps

If you are considering

Asian Tiger Mosquito Traps

then some to consider is that the adult tiger mosquito is about 1/8 inch long.  It is black with white stripes on its legs and body so it can not be mistaken with other mosquitoes.

There have been many problems caused by the Asian Tiger Mosquito. Overseas, the Asian Tiger Mosquito spreads disease, and it may spread diseases such as West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis in the U.S.

Personal Protection

• Apply insect repellants according to the label directions.
• Avoid the outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, from dusk to dawn.
• Wear light-colored garments that cover your arms and legs, especially when you have to be outside between dusk and dawn.  One thing to note, the Asian Tiger Mosquito can sting through clothing, but wearing light colors (besides yellow, they like yellow) will let you see them when they land.

Ways to control the mosquito is by using less toxic products is essential to maintain the level of mosquitoes in Florida, Southeast Asia and Latin America within acceptable levels. The global control of malaria in 2010 required millions of dollars for spraying and insecticide nets.  Everyone needs to buckle down, these mosquitoes are here to stay since the Asian tiger mosquito invasive species can withstand the different seasons.

Researchers are developing alternative methods of mosquito control, some of which are presented here:

• RNA interference
  RNA-based insecticides kill – yet to find a formula to spray them in large quantities.
  • Sterilization of males
    If you enter in sufficient quantity, the sterile males can slow down. In the early eighties, the screwworm was eradicated in the United States with this method: the pupae were irradiated and transformed into sterile males were released until the species became extinct.
    There have been no field tests with sufficient evidence this will work with mosquitoes.
  • Improved Chemical
    Mosquitoes are becoming resistant to existing insecticides that act on the nervous system. Researchers are looking for agents using other mechanisms, including natural products such as cedar oil.
    Outstanding basic research to find products and modes of action.
  • Traps
    In 2003, researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture almost completely eliminated Aedes taeniorhynchus in a Florida island with traps that generate carbon dioxide to attract mosquitoes.
    Good for gardens or small islands, but probably not feasible on a larger scale.

There are many interesting theories for Asian Tiger Mosquito Traps to be considered, but there is substantial cost that has to be considered.  If the spread of disease can be eliminated, then there would be no need to eliminate them since every creature has its place in the ecosystem.

Asian Tiger Mosquito

The

Asian Tiger Mosquito

(Aedes albopictus) is a species of Diptera Nematocera belonging to the Culicidae family. It is characterized by its black color with white decorated chest and abdomen, the are legs black with white bands and a characteristic central longitudinal white line on the chest and head. It has a length of between about 1/8 inch (5 and 10 mm). Like other species of mosquito, the female has a long and slender tube, the proboscis, which is like a pen, used to bite and draw blood of vertebrates, especially mammals and birds, which uses for egg development. Males of the species, like that of other mosquitoes feed on nectar.

Ecologically the larvae of this species is in containers where there are small amounts of water that are in shady places such as jars, buckets, vases, plant saucers and other objects containing water in gardens, yards, vacant lots, and water-filled cavities in trees. In our environment the mosquito systematically exploits the human source water for reproduction. Their sting, even through thin clothing like socks, it is very annoying. The other thing with the Asian Tiger Mosquito is that they come out and sting in daylight hours when many native species do not usually bite.

The Asian Tiger Mosquito is an invasive species native to Southeast Asia, having spread throughout Africa, Europe and America since 1979 and subsequently many areas of the Pacific. Their arrival has occurred during transportation of persons or goods with remains of standing water such as used tires, or ornamental plants such as the Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana).

In endemic areas the Asain Tiger Mosquito spreads diseases like dengue in Central America, South Pacific, the yellow fever and although much less frequently than the Culex pipiens or Aedes aegypti vector can be in transmission of West Nile Virus . American studies have shown the presence of virus in the insect, that can cause disease in humans such as eastern equine encephalitis .

In the summer of 2007, an outbreak epidemic of chikungunya fever in Ravenna, Italy produced by the virus CHIKV and was spread by the bite of the Asian Tiger Mosquito. Until then, the disease had affected only tropical countries, which triggered global awareness to this pest and what it is capable of.

In countries where it has spread, the fight for its eradication is difficult and very expensive, so it is suitable to act as early as possible by raising awareness among institutions and citizens to prevent this spread. Among the actions proposed are:

• Properly manage the storage, transport processes and the recycling of used tires. This seems like it should be one of the key actions is to limit its intercontinental expansion, since they have linked the spread of mosquito routes, with the latter transport cargo worldwide.
• Avoid potential reservoirs for mosquito breeding such as containers, pots, cans or any other utensil in which the water can not be refilled at least every week.
• Insect repellents when you are outdoors, taking into account the instructions and precautions relating to the product. The ultrasonic emission devices advertised in the market are completely ineffective ‘to protect themselves from any mosquito.

The Asian Tiger Mosquito needs little in order to multiply.  By inspecting your yard especially after it rains to make sure there is no standing water will help keep them away.  If you have not seen one, consider yourself lucky because this mosquito is bold and aggressive with almost a well thought out plan going backing forth trying to figure out where to sting you – and it hurts!