Asian Tiger Mosquito Essay

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Your Very Own Home-Grown Mosquito!
Common Name: Asian Tiger Mosquito
Scientific Name: Aedes albopictus
Classification:
Domain Eukarya

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Arthropod

Class Insecta

Order Diptera

Family Culicidae

Description: The Asian Tiger Mosquito looks very similar to our common, everyday mosquitos except for a few differences. This six-legged insect averages a length of about ten millimeters. The abdomen of this species is black with white horizontal bands. These white bands are also found on the legs and have white tips on the palp. The thorax is also black and the dorsal side of the thorax has a white stripe down the center, starting at the back of the head and continues along the thorax.

Photo:

Distribution:
This invasive …show more content…

The Asian Tiger Mosquito was introduced into the United States accidentally from tires imported from Asia. The islands of Torres Straight have numerous reports of this mosquito also. This invasive species was introduced into the United States, probably Houston, Texas, from Japan in 1985. The constant trade of used tires throughout the U.S. allowed the Asian Tiger Mosquito to disperse across America.

Ecological niche:
The Asian Tiger Mosquito commonly thrives in residential areas with shade and anything that can hold water. Cans, buckets, flower vases and other water holding containers (like tires), are suitable breeding sites for this invasive species. The male of this species feeds on nectar from plants, whereas the females feed and depend on blood to help them with the development of their eggs. Females may also feed on nectar also. In a natural environment, the Asian Tiger Mosquito …show more content…

One bite can cause a dog to get heartworm disease or a human to get West Nile. This invasive species has been known to vector infectious diseases such Dengue Fever in Southeast Asia, Yellow Fever, and La Crosse encephalitis. There are not many other threats except that this species can have a negative effect on human health due to the agents that cause diseases.

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