Tiger Mosquitoes: Where Are They And What Are The Dangers?

Many people hear the name Tiger Mosquito and wonder what it is and how it got such a dubious name. First things first, these insects received the name because of the black and white stripes on its body. There is also a single while stripe down the entire length of the back of the insect.

Like other mosquitoes this insect is rather delicate with a slender body and one pair of wings. The creature has three pairs of long slender legs. The female of the species bites and feeds on blood.

These mosquitoes have been found in various types of locations including: agricultural areas, coastlands, water courses, wetlands, planted forests, natural forests, range/grasslands, and others. In urban areas the mosquitoes have been noted to breed around bush vegetation in gardens.

Because the mosquito is very flexible when it comes to colonizing it can reproduce in small containers such as soda cans and larger containers alike. Old tires seem to be a favorite spot for the insects. Actually any thing that effectively collects and retains rainwater can provide a breeding ground.

These mosquitoes are aggressive and they attack humans as well as birds, reptiles, amphibians and other animals. A recent study indicated an incredible biting rate of between 30 and 48 bites per hour.

The horrifying aspect of this is that mosquitoes carry many diseases including but not limited to malaria. It is thought that tiger mosquitoes are spread via the tire industry. Many times tires are stored outdoors and of course they collect rainwater over time. As the tires are shipped internationally this provides the perfect medium for transferring the insects from one area of the world to another. But in many cases the origin of the insects remains unknown.

The mosquitoes are known to be able to survive in certain locations around the world. For instance, it has been documented that the insects can now live in the warmer climates of Italy. But that is only the beginning of the places that tiger mosquitoes live. These insects also exist in at least twenty southern and eastern states in the U.S.

This trend has been predicted by scientists and others as they warned that a global warming would open up the opportunity for many tropical diseases to travel outward toward the poles of the earth. It is estimated that tiger mosquitoes began populating southern Italy about ten years ago. However, the creatures can now be found roaming all of southern Europe.

Even with the reports of the mosquitoes spreading many doctors and scientists insist that there is no need to worry about too much of a spread because the insects need heat and humidity to survive. The virus that has been contributed to the mosquitoes most recently is that of chikungunya. This virus is usually not life-threatening but it does usually cause joint and muscle pain along with a rash and fever.

The tiger mosquito is thought to have originated in the following areas: throughout the Oriental Region from the tropics of Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Indian Ocean Islands, north through China and Japan and west to Madagascar. It is noted that the mosquito has been introduced in North and South America, as well as occurrences in Africa, Australia and Europe. The insect is known to be established in Albania, Italy and also France.

Although the continued spread of tiger mosquitoes is a real possibility at this time there seems to be little that can be done to stop it. The increase in global trade and travel serves to provide a means of transmission. Of course everyone is encouraged to do their part in keeping containers free of standing water in order to help eradicate the many breeding zones in locations where the insects are known to exist.

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