Asian Tiger Mosquitoes in Virginia

The Virginia Department of Health has reported that the Asian Tiger Mosquito is the type of mosquito that causes the most bites in the state of Virginia. This mosquito originated in Asia, but has spread to many other countries. It is a mosquito that tends to live where humans are instead of marshy areas, which may be one of the reasons why so many people are bitten by this type of mosquito.

What Does the Asian Tiger Mosquito Look Like?

The Asian Tiger mosquito is striped and looks similar to a tiger. It is dark with white stripes. Although it can be difficult to identify a mosquito when it is biting you, if you capture the mosquito and examine it closely you will be able to identify it.

Where Does the Asian Tiger Mosquito Breed?

This species of mosquito can breed in just one tablespoon of water. It is different from other mosquitoes because it is considered a container breeder. It will not breed if there is soil found in the water. Instead it looks for containers that contain water like old jugs or buckets. It may breed in a rock pool or a hole that is in a large rock.

What Diseases Does the Asian Tiger Mosquito Carry?

This mosquito carries West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis and La Crosse encephalitis in the Virginia area. However, it is also a known carrier of dengue fever, yellow fever and chikungunya. If these viruses spread to the United States, this mosquito can spread it rapidly because of the way it hunts.

How Does the Asian Tiger Mosquito Behave?

The mosquito tends to rest in foliage and then hunt when a victim comes close to them. They do not spend a lot of time in flight, but spend their time in shady, cool areas. The mosquitoes are active all day long, and so you may be bitten at any time during the day, while other mosquitoes tend to be more active at dawn and at dusk. A mosquito control program may be effective for your yard since it will treat the foliage in your yard where this type of mosquito likes to spend most of its time.

When trying to protect yourself from being bitten by the Asian Tiger mosquito, the CDC recommends you use a mosquito repellent with DEET. Although it"s best to have a professional mosquito control company eliminate the area surrounding your home, using a repellent will add a second layer of protection against being bitten.

Comments

Can Tick Bites Really Cause an Allergy to Meat?

In the past few years there have been increasing reports of people developing allergies to meat after being bitten by a tick. This is formerly called an Alpha Gel allergy. Researchers in Virginia were among the first to discover it through clinical trials for a medication. Some patients were having a reaction to one component in the medication and would have similar allergic reactions to red meat or meat from mammals. Some people even have reactions to dairy products. What Tick Causes the Allergic Reaction? The Lone Star tick is the only tick that is currently known to spread the allergy to meat. The ticks are common in areas with high deer populations, since the Lone Star tick prefers to feed on the deer. You can identify a tick by looking at its back for a white dot in the center. If you find a tick attached to you, you will need to remove it right away, and then watch for symptoms. How Can I Tell if I Have an Allergy to Meat? The symptoms for the meat allergy will build over time....

Florence brings Flooding and Mosquitoes to PWC

As the remnants of Hurricane Florence have pushed farther north and west of the eastern seaboard, heavy rains have inundated areas of northern Virginia and caused flooding as far north as DC . Not only did the areas around the floodplains get a major increase in flooding, but the ground in general became heavily saturated with rainwater, thus providing a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes to lay eggs and increase their number. Mosquito Breeding in Wet Yard Areas Mosquitoes will typically lay their eggs in areas where rainwater collects naturally, such as in ponds and along the banks of rivers and streams, but with all the rain that Florence brought to Prince William County quite a few homeowners have noticed that mosquito populations have increased dramatically since the storm. This is because the mosquitoes can now easily lay their eggs in just about any location where there is still water pooling from the rains, and until the ground is fully dry this will continue unless action ...

10 Facts About Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes can be a pesky insect. Known for ruining outdoor barbecues and parties as well as for spreading serious diseases there may not be a lot to love about mosquitoes. Here are ten facts about the pesky little insect. 1. There are over 3500 species of mosquitoes around the world. However, there are only about 175 species in the United States and West Virginia has the fewest species of mosquitoes. 2. Mosquitoes like warm weather and will develop more quickly in the perfect temperature of around 80 degrees. Some mosquitoes hibernate. When it reaches about 50 degrees they begin to look for places to burrow into. Others will lay their eggs in freezing water so they can hatch when it warms up. 3. Male mosquitoes do not suck blood. They feed on flower nectar instead. They also have a much shorter life span of about ten days. 4. Female mosquitoes need to feed on blood in order to lay their eggs. They also have a longer lifespan and can live up to 54 days. 5. Mosquitoes transmit disease t...

Mosquito Tek

Search This Blog