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Aedes albopictus female mosquito obtaining a blood meal from a human host.
Image by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - License: Public Domain. (view image details)
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Aedes albopictus
Image by James Gathany - License: Public Domain. (view image details)
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INSECT FACTS |
Identification
The Asian Tiger Mosquito has white bands on the abdomen, and white bands on the legs and white tips to the palps. The back of the thorax is black with a white stripe down the center from the back of the head. beginning at the dorsal surface of the head and continuing along the thorax.
Size
length to 10mm
Food
Males feed on nectar. Females feed on blood to develop their eggs, but at other times they feed on nectar. The Asian tiger mosquito bites mostly during the day.
Breeding
In its natural environment it breeds in tree holes. In urban areas, they will breed around houses and gardens in small containers such as bird baths, containers, old tyres etc.
Range
The Asian Tiger Mosquito is an invasive species from Southeast Asia. It has spread to Europe, Americas, Africa and the Middle East. It is not native to Australia and has yet to establish itself here. It is found on islands in the Torres Strait.
Classification
| Class: | Insecta | | Order: | Diptera | | Family: | Culicidae | | Genus: | Aedes | | Species: | albopictus | | Common Name: | Asian Tiger Mosquito |
Relatives in same Genus
Dengue Mosquito (A. aegypti)
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