You may have seen these distinctive striped-legged mosquitoes and wondered what they are called. The black and white striped pattern on their legs is a true representation of the animal that inspired their naming – a tiger. They are bold little buzzers, and are out in full force during the day. Boy does it hurt when one bites you! No area in Massachusetts is safe from the Asian Tiger mosquito, including Chelmsford, Lowell, Billerica, Tewksbury.
The Asian Tiger mosquito has distinctive black and white striped legs.
The Asian Tiger mosquito , Aedes albopictus (Stegomyia albopicta) is also called the forest day mosquito. It is native to Southeast Asia and has a love for heat and humidity. These mosquitoes found their way to the United States in 1985, via a tire shipment that ported in Houston, Texas. The Asian Tiger mosquito has moved quickly up the east coast and they are now seen often in the Massachusetts area.
Research of the Asian Tiger mosquito has uncovered their interesting feeding habits. The female usually needs multiple hosts to acquire enough blood meal to develop her eggs. She will bite species other than mammals, which makes spread of disease more likely. For instance, West Nile Virus is transferred from mosquitoes biting infected birds, and eventually moving on to bite a human.
The Asian Tiger mosquito is identified as a “container breeder”. It does not need a large amount of water in which to lay eggs. There is no need for a creek or bird bath. This mosquito prefers small collections of dampness such as flower pots, empty soda cans and small containers. Any small thing we leave lying around, in which water can collect, is perfect for them to produce offspring.
Mosquito barrier control spray is essential in Central Mass.
There are a few things that you can do in your Massachusetts yard to help control mosquitoes from breeding. Turn water out of small places where it collects. Make sure to keep your yard cut short and discard clippings. Use a mosquito treatment program.