Asian Tiger Mosquitoes and Other Aedes. How to Spot and Stop Them

Look for stripes. The Asian tiger mosquito has a black body and legs with white stripes. The diagnostic mark is a white stripe down the top of the head and thorax.² Size ranges from 2 to 10 mm and averages around 6 mm. Males are about 20% smaller.²

California's invasive Aedes are black with white stripes on the legs and back.⁴ The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, lives indoors and outdoors and prefers biting people.³ The tiger mosquito lives outdoors, in or near homes and nearby woods, and bites people and animals.³

Culex mosquitoes look different and bite at dusk. See the mosquito guide to compare, and the West Nile guide for the house mosquito.

The female lays eggs on the inner walls of containers, above the waterline.³ Eggs hatch when rain or a hose floods them. They are about 0.025 inch long.^1,3

Larvae live 7 to 10 days and pupae 2 to 7 days, depending on temperature.² The full cycle can take as little as 7 days.² UC ANR says the entire life cycle can occur in 7 to 8 days.⁴

Larvae can finish growing in one half ounce of water.² Eggs survive drying for up to a year and overwinter in temperate regions.² CDC says up to 8 months, and that they can make it through a winter in the southern United States.³

Females fly only a few blocks in their lifetime.³

Tiger mosquitoes bite in the daytime, mostly early morning to late afternoon, and like shade or cloud.² UC ANR says they prefer to bite around your legs and ankles.⁴

• Black mosquitoes with white stripes landing on you at midday.^2,4
• Wrigglers in flowerpot saucers, buckets, bird baths or tires.^1,2
• Standing water in gutters, watering cans and yard clutter.⁴
• Eggs on the sides of containers just above the water line.^3,4

They stay close. Adults generally do not travel more than half a mile, and often less than 200 meters.² So the source is probably on your lot or next door.

Ohio State says the Asian tiger mosquito is not currently considered a public health threat in the United States. It can potentially carry several viruses, but other Ohio species are more likely to spread the viruses found locally.²

The bite itself is the daily problem. Wash with soap and water, then use an anti itch cream such as calamine, an ice pack or an antihistamine.⁷

CDC says only female Aedes mosquitoes bite, and they need blood to make eggs.³ CDC lists dengue and West Nile among mosquito borne diseases.⁸ Ask your doctor about symptoms after travel.

Go after containers. UC ANR says to drain standing water from gutters, buckets and watering cans, change water in pet dishes and bird baths weekly and clear yard clutter that holds water.⁴

Treat water you cannot dump, like a pond, with Bti or mosquito fish.⁴ Bti kills larvae but not pupae, and Mosquito Dunks last about 30 days.¹ Fix door and window screens and wear repellent and protective clothing.⁴

Sprays are a short fix. Outdoor sprays give only temporary relief from adults.¹ A licensed pro can scout your lot for small containers and hidden pooling. Check the license first.

Aedes are tied to human activity and hard to control.⁴ You need neighbors on board.

A one time yard treatment averages $135 to $251. A season plan runs $373 to $694.⁶

A yard up to 1/2 acre runs $300 to $500.⁶ Treatment type, infestation size and visit count all move the price.⁶

For Aedes, the cheapest step is yours. Walk the lot once a week and empty every container. Then pay for larvicide only where water has to stay.^1,4 Ask a company what it will do about small containers, since Aedes breed in half an ounce of water.²

• Drain flowerpot saucers, buckets, bird baths and pet dishes weekly.^4,5
• Dispose of tires. One tire can hold thousands of larvae and pupae.⁵
• Clear clutter that holds water.⁴
• Keep screens in good repair.⁴
• Use repellent in daytime shade as well as at dusk, since tiger mosquitoes bite by day.^2,4
• Wear long sleeves and pants, and skip dark clothing.⁵

Share this list with the neighbors. Adults rarely fly far from where they hatched.²

• Empty and clean bird baths weekly.⁵
• Drain flowerpot saucers and watering cans so rain cannot leave them full.⁴

Tiger mosquitoes bite mostly from early morning to late afternoon.² That is different from most species, which bite at dawn and dusk.⁵

Eggs can overwinter in temperate regions, and they survive drying out.² The first big rain or watering of a dry bucket restarts the cycle.¹

The grid shows warm months as the peak.

Aedes also need standing water in small containers, so the grid follows the months when buckets, saucers and tires hold water and temperatures are warm.³

Tiger mosquito larvae last 7 to 10 days, and pupae 2 to 7 days.² A weekly dump routine breaks the cycle every time.^2,4

Ohio State says the Asian tiger mosquito has been collected in 41 of the 80 Ohio counties surveyed, mostly in southern Ohio.² It is only one of Ohio's 65 species.⁵

The northern house mosquito is the one linked to West Nile, and it has been reported in every county.² Ohio municipalities often monitor and spray in summer, so ask your local health department.⁵

If you hire a company, Ohio requires a commercial applicator license and a business license for pesticide work for hire.⁹ Applicators pass a core exam and a category exam, and licenses expire each Sept. 30.⁹

UC ANR calls Aedes mosquitoes an invasive pest. They now live in many California regions, from Shasta County to San Diego County.⁴ They breed in yards and homes.⁴

California has more than 60 mosquito and vector control districts.¹ MVCAC says to contact your local mosquito and vector control agency about a mosquito problem.¹⁰ Report heavy daytime biting to your district.

For private pest control, check the Structural Pest Control Board license lookup. Structural pest control covers household pests and pesticide use.¹¹ The mosquito hub has more state notes.