What Do Asian Tiger Mosquitoes Look Like?
The Asian tiger mosquito is black and white, unlike their brown cousins. Asian tiger mosquitoes are only about 1/4 of an inch long. They have black bodies with white markings on their bodies. These tiger-like markings include a white stripe down the front of the head and black and white bands on the legs.
Breeding Habitats of Asian Tiger Mosquitoes
Asian tiger mosquitoes love to hang out in your neighborhood. They are attracted to residential areas because of the wealth of food sources and breeding grounds. The Asian tiger mosquitoes are attracted to artificial water-holding sources such as watering cans, rain barrels, birdbaths, buckets, plastic wading pools, and flower vases. Areas of stagnant water are the ideal place for Asian tiger mosquitoes to cast their eggs.
Diet of the Asian Tiger Mosquito: What They Feed On
The male Asian tiger mosquito prefers to feed on plant nectar and other plant juices. It’s the female Asian tiger mosquito that should concern you. Female Asian tiger mosquitoes feed on blood. They need it to nourish their eggs. Female Asian tiger mosquitoes will bite small rodents like deer mice, house mice, roof rats, and Norway rats as well as squirrels, dogs, deer, and yes, humans. Asian tiger mosquitoes bite during the day, not at night.
Health Risks: Are Asian Tiger Mosquitoes a Threat?
It is unclear if Asian tiger mosquitoes will be carriers of certain diseases among human populations in the U.S. as they are in Asia. Samples have been taken from Asian tiger mosquitoes, however, and they included dangerous viruses such as West Nile and LaCrosse encephalitis. The Asian tiger mosquito is a potential carrier for Zika virus as well. Zika is an illness that causes fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, rash, and is potentially linked to microcephaly in new babies born to women who were infected while pregnant. Microcephaly is a condition that causes babies to have abnormally small heads.
In November of 2016, a case of Zika was found in Texas. The finding puts Texas on the map as the second state with confirmed cases. The first cases of chikungunya were verified in Brownsville, TX. Authorities are warning pregnant women not to travel to areas where Zika virus is present, but in the Texas case, the woman was not pregnant nor did she travel to an area with high Zika-carrier populations. This is concerning for Texas residents because it opens the window for more potential cases of mosquito-borne diseases.
Discover Innovative Pest Control’s Effective Solutions
While the complete control of Asian tiger mosquitoes is not possible, seasonal mosquito control methods can reduce your risk for infestation and illness. Mosquito solutions include monthly treatments through the most active months for mosquitoes, from April to September. Depending on the weather, however, treatment must be extended earlier or later in the season. The professional mosquito treatments from Innovative Pest Control include fogging around your home, plants, grassy areas, and wooded areas where mosquitoes are likely to breed and rest during the day. They also include treating stagnant water to curb the breeding on the property. To find out more about Innovative Pest Control’s mosquito control program, call (903) 326-7395 now!
Essential Tips for Asian Tiger Mosquito Prevention
- Remove all standing water and water containers on the property.
- Do not wear dark clothing as mosquitoes are drawn to dark colors.
- Avoid wearing lotions and perfume when going outside.
- Avoid traveling to areas with outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses.
- Keep your doors and windows shut, or at least make sure all areas are screened.
- Wear mosquito repellent when spending time outdoors.
- Contact Innovative Pest Control for professional assistance in Tyler and East Texas.
