Although this year's mosquito season is almost at an end, local health officials are concerned about the possible health issues they may be faced with next spring when the eggs of the Asian Tiger Mosquito hatch. The Asian Tiger Mosquito first appeared on Staten Island in 1997, but has become increasingly more prevalent. First discovered in the United States in Houston, Texas in 1985, the Asian Tiger Mosquito is believed to have been carried in shipments of scrap tires from northern Asia. It has now spread to at least twenty-five states which are located mostly in the south and southeast, but has recently been discovered as far north as Maine.
This species of mosquito is much more aggressive than most others, travels in packs, and bites during the day rather than at dusk or in the evening. In addition, the Asian Tiger Mosquito is a carrier for twenty-two different viruses such as chikungunya, yellow and dengue fever, as well as certain types of encephalitis, and dog heartworm. Typically, the mosquito bites a person who has been infected with a virus, thereby becoming a carrier of that virus. The mosquito then transmits that virus to the next individual which it bites.
According to entomologists, if the Asian Tiger Mosquito's eggs survive the winter, they will be impossible to eradicate. It is believed that the eggs will survive this winter unless the season is extremely cold with prolonged periods of below-zero temperatures. Once the eggs hatch next spring, it will not be feasible to kill the mosquitoes by spraying during the daytime, because the spraying will endanger other desirable insects such as honey bees.
The Asian Tiger mosquito is considered to be among the 100 most invasive species on the planet. The best way to protect oneself from this potentially dangerous mosquito is to be diligent about insect repellent use.
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