Pest Library
Asian Tiger Mosquito
The Asian tiger mosquito is a small black mosquito with bright white banding on the legs and a single white stripe down the middle of the back. Unlike most mosquitoes it bites aggressively during the day, and it breeds in remarkably small amounts of standing water — a bottle cap's worth is enough.
Profile
- Scientific name
- Aedes albopictus
- Identification
- Black with white leg bands and one white dorsal stripe; short flight range, close to where it developed.
- Typical size
- About 1/4 inch.
- Behavior
- Day-active, stays near breeding containers, and rarely travels far, which means most biting pressure comes from water on or immediately around the property.
- Habitat
- Flowerpot saucers, buckets, tarps, tires, gutters, bird baths, toys, boat covers, tree holes and clogged drains.
- Diet
- Blood for females; nectar for both sexes.
- Lifecycle
- Egg to adult in as little as a week or two in warm weather; eggs survive dry periods and hatch when reflooded.
- Why it matters
- Mosquitoes can transmit disease. Follow CDC guidance on repellents and personal protection, and take any illness following mosquito exposure to a healthcare provider.
- DIY considerations
- Source reduction is genuinely the most effective step, because this species develops within a short flight of where it bites.
- Professional considerations
- Bed Bugs & Beyond does not offer mosquito control. This profile is identification and prevention information only. Source reduction around your property is the most effective step you can take yourself, and your county or municipal mosquito program may also be a resource.
Signs of activity
- Daytime biting around porches, patios and shaded landscaping
- Larvae wriggling in standing water in containers, saucers or gutters
- Biting pressure spiking a week or two after heavy rain
Prevention
- Walk the property weekly and dump every container holding water
- Clean gutters and correct low spots and clogged drains
- Change bird bath and pet bowl water at least weekly
- Store buckets, tarps, toys and boat covers so they cannot hold water
- Use EPA-registered repellents and screens as directed on the label
Sources
Related information
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