Asian tiger mosquito

The Asian tiger mosquito is a species of mosquito with the scientific name Aedes albopictus. Although its name is derived from its stripes, it is perhaps best known as an invasive species that has been introduced into new habitats by traveling in ships holding animal crates or tires. This mosquito is extremely small compared to others, and could be dangerous to some. Before they bite, females wave their white legs as a warning; victims should pay attention to this as they may contract a disease if bitten. These bugs are able to travel all across the globe because all they need is still water to multiply and spread. As of now they can be found across Europe and Asia, but have also been spotted in the eastern United States. They are wary of birds, frogs, and any other animal that eats other mosquitos. The Asian tiger mosquito is most commonly known for spreading illnesses such as Dengue Fever and Chikungunya. These viruses could vary in danger and could either not affect or kill the victim. This insect can be thought of as any other mosquito, but is clearly unique if you learn more about it.

Body Design
The Asian tiger mosquito is a classic insect with three body segments: six legs, a pair of wings, and a relatively odd pair of antennae that are actually shorter than the length of its head. Although the name of this creature may lead you to believe that it is great in size it actually is quite the opposite. The adult Asian tiger mosquito can grow to about 1/8 of an inch in length. Like other members of the mosquito family the females have a long, thin, and retractable proboscis which they use to bite their victims and suck their blood.

The female before she bites waves her white striped legs as a warning to her prey of the pain that will soon follow her bite. Although the Asian tiger mosquito is a fairly small creature, it has quite an intricate design. It has a completely black body with the exception of many white stripes on the legs which are also scales of the mosquito and one white stripe that goes all the way down the back of its body. There are also some white stripes on the bottom of the abdomen but these stripes, however, are fairly incomplete and have the appearance of white dots instead of solid stripes. The stripes aren't exactly in the same pattern or color of an actual tiger, but these stripes give it the name Asian tiger mosquito.

Life Cycle
The life of an Asian tiger mosquito has four stages to it: the egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The Tiger mosquito eggs are usually found in any kind of still water container. They are not harmed by any form of weather. All the eggs need is to be covered fully in water and they hatch. There could be hundreds of eggs in a single small container. The larvae stage of the mosquito is also found in still contained water. When an egg hatches, into larva, it looks like a tiny worm. The mosquito larva has an exoskeleton that covers its entire body. Although the covering of the exoskeleton can’t come off, it has to break off instead. It works like this when the larva gets too big, the exoskeleton breaks apart and comes off. Then a new one starts to grow in and takes its place. It is called molting, when the exoskeleton comes off. Once the larva reaches its final molt, it changes shape. This is called the pupa stage. The changed mosquito now looks like a comma and it receives a hard outer coating. The case splits open after a few days and the adult mosquito is born. Once the adult has hatched it doesn't live for very long (Goldish,4-20). The adult Asian tiger females need blood to lay their eggs. Males eat plant juices and don’t bite. Males live a lot longer than females, because shortly after she lays her eggs, she dies. And then the life cycle of the Asian tiger mosquito starts all over again.

Ecology
Location: The Asian tiger mosquito originally inhabited the Oriental Region. This includes countries such as China, Japan, and Madagascar. It was introduced to the Americas in the early 1980s through the tire trade industry between Japan and the United states. Small parts of the used tires would gather water, and since the females laid eggs in the water, mosquito eggs would also be carried across the ocean. In the first two years after Asian tiger mosquitoes were discovered in the US, they had infested about 17 states. As of today, 25 states are exposed to them. Asian Tiger Mosquitoes live in tight spaces near still water. They are able to easily adapt to different conditions and places. They can live anywhere from ponds to storage shelters. They can usually be found around Common Cattail, Reed, Duckweed, and Yellow Pond Lily.

Predators/Prey:The Asian tiger mosquito has many predators. Usually these are smaller animals such as birds, frogs, toads, and etc. Animals such as the Yellow Perch, Big Brown Bat, Eastern Newt, and Crayfish prey on the mosquito. It usually eats in the morning or afternoon. The females feed off of the blood in humans, mammals, and birds, while males eat vegetation to obtain the nutrition needed. Unlike most mosquitoes, the Asian tiger mosquito may drink blood any time of the day. The females are attracted to Carbon Dioxide that is given off by a host, so they may be drawn to some organisms more than others.

Diseases Spread


Mosquitoes all across the world are known for carrying and infecting people with certain diseases or viruses. Certain infections are spread mainly by this insect and others of its kinds because it carries the blood of one person to another. Malaria is one very common infection caused by mosquito bites and is mostly present in Africa. The Asian tiger mosquito is known mostly for giving Dengue fever and Chikungunya disease to the people of Europe and Asia. The viruses are found all over the globe but have recently been even more present in European countries like Italy and France. Infections caused by the Asian tiger mosquito are often not extremely harmful and the illnesses are usually all cured in just a couple weeks. They have many symptoms and are generally not at all deadly or dangerous to adults, and children very rarely contract them. There is, though, no cure or vaccine for many viruses spread by mosquitoes. Some humans are more likely to be more affected by these diseases, and they are the ones who should be more cautious of being bitten.

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever is not usually fatal but is becoming more common in places other than Africa, where it is most often found. Sometimes there is a misunderstanding that all infections gained from mosquito bites are deadly, but that is not true. Dengue is not nearly as serious as other viruses and victims should fully recover after the estimated one to two weeks of bed rest. Citizens of the world should avoid catching the fever, but shouldn't be afraid if they contract it. The symptoms, though they aren't always present, can be rather uncomfortable and it may make the disease feel more serious than it is. Victims are usually extremely dehydrated, as well as nauseous and fatigued. Most often, though, the main effect is a high fever and rashes.

Chikungunya

Chikungunya is an infection transmitted from human to human that, like most mosquito spread viruses, is found all throughout Africa. Just recently doctors have diagnosed patients to have this disease in European countries. This virus can be misdiagnosed as Dengue fever very easily, but there are some distinguishing symptoms that separate them. First of all, Chikungunya can lead to death, unlike Dengue. Mostly in older victims, the disease can lead to heart complications and other problems. In other cases, though, symptoms could not even appear, similar to dengue, and patients may recover quickly. Another dominant indication of Chikungunya is extreme joint pain. This pain could fade as the infection begins to leave the victim, or it could continue after the patient is cured, sometimes for months or even years. Like Dengue, though, victims should normally be symptom free within a few weeks.

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