Asian Tiger Mosquito Pictures

Many people are used to the common mosquito (Culex pipiens) that can be seen throughout the world, but now there is a new critter in town so if you have never seen them, check out the

Asian Tiger Mosquito Pictures

to see what they look like.

Although there are over three thousand different types of mosquitoes, there is a distinct difference between the more common mosquito and the Asian Tiger Mosquito.  The common mosquito also from the Culicidae family with the female being blood feeding, is all one color and they like to come out during the evening for a bite to eat.

The females are more of a threat since they are vectors looking to feed from humans and other  warm blooded animals, leaving the possibility of spreading diseases.

Now with the Asian Tiger Mosquito, they have distinctive markings and could care less what time of day it happens to be.  If you have never seen one in person, well let me tell you, it is easy to tell them apart from the more common mosquito.  Even they look more like a zebra, their tiger like stripes will have you curious as to what type of creature this is.

If you are into insets, you will find this to be a truly interesting looking mosquito.  Besides looking different, they move differently as well.  Here I was standing outside and there she was checking me out.  Buzzing back and forth in front of me, it was like watching an Olympian ping-pong match.  She was sizing me up where she was going to attack.  When I saw her coming in for the kill, I swatted at her not to kill, just to get her away from me.  Then, before I realized it, the little, well female mosquito stung me on my wrist!

Normally I can handle a sting, but that one hurt!  Then I was shocked because it was 10am and I was really surprised to see it buzzing around.  Since I do not live in the tropics I was even more shocked to see it in my front yard.

To make things worse, one entered my home.  I have a tan couch and saw her land.  Startled, I got up to get my camera, I wanted to record how fast this thing moves, but it was gone when I got back.  She has since become an unwelcome member of my household.

They love humidity and standing water.  So it is highly recommended to remove anything that will accumulate water or create a puddle, even a small one.  The United States has undergone tremendous continuous rain and they are thriving in this climate.

This mosquito has the ability to adapt to cooler and cold climates so you may not get a break when the weather changes.  You may be wondering where they are in comparison to where you live or are going.  Here is a map that indicates in blue and green where they have taken up residence. They are also steadily heading west in the United States and have recently been spotted in California, so this map will change very soon.  So if you see where you live is highlighted on the map don’t be surprised if one comes to visit because the Asian Tiger Mosquito is moving into your neighborhood.

Asian Tiger Mosquito Facts

There are many

Asian Tiger Mosquito Facts

that are interesting.  The life of a Asian Tiger Mosquito has four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Larva and pupa are always found in water. Like other mosquitoes, the female Asian Tiger Mosquito needs blood to produce eggs. The Tiger Mosquito will bite many types of animals, including people. It likes to bite in the daytime, mostly in early morning or late afternoon. It depends on who you ask if the bite is the same or worse than that of other mosquitoes, but large numbers of Asian Tiger Mosquitoes can be a problem around home or at work.

The Asian Tiger Mosquito lays its eggs inside containers that will hold water. These can be man-made containers such as tires, tin cans, buckets, bird baths, and clogged gutters, or they can be natural containers such as holes in trees or rocks and the list goes on. The Asian Tiger Mosquito can be a problem around homes or in the woods because of many places it can breed. Eggs are not harmed by dry or cold weather. When flooded with water during summer, the eggs hatch. Even in a small container there can be hundreds of larvae. Depending on where you live they can seen anywhere from May through October with peeks during the summer.

Many wonder if spray trucks useful against the Tiger Mosquito.  Mosquito spray trucks or Ultra Low Volume (ULV) cold foggers are designed to work in the evenings when temperatures are cooler.  The Asian Tiger Mosquito prefers to fly during daylight hours.  Ultimately the best control strategy to battle the Asian Tiger Mosquito is to use what is referred to as ‘Tip and Toss’ all the containers holding water around the house.  Removing the Larva can dramatically reduce the adult Asian Tiger Mosquito population around the house.

Other Interesting Facts

• One Asian Tiger Mosquito can bite up to ten times trying to complete its hunt for a blood meal.
• There are at least 45 (known) different types of mosquitoes.
• Rooting house plants inside can produce Asian Tiger Mosquito larval habitat inside your house.
• One female mosquito can lay up to 500 eggs in its lifetime.
• The average life expectancy of an adult mosquito is about 3 weeks.
• Some mosquitoes can have as many as 12 generations per year.

However, the chemicals that were once used to control all types of mosquitoes are now banned in many countries.   The most effective was DDT – while it eliminated mosquitoes it was harmful to the environment and the people in it.  The Asian Tiger Mosquito Facts will be helpful if you happen to see or hear about them

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.