Reports of A ‘New’ Breed of Mosquito? That’s Old News.

We think we speak for many when we say 2020 continues to surprise us. A global pandemic, murder hornets, and now – a new breed of mosquito?! California residents have been buzzing over news reports and social media conversations trending around discussions of a new breed of mosquito popping up throughout the state.

However, the mosquito in question is the Aedes mosquito, which encompasses three species of mosquitoes: Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito), Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito), and Aedes notoscriptus (Australian backyard mosquito). According to our in-house entomologist, Dr. Chan, invasive mosquitoes are brought in by trade and travel. Some of these species have been around longer than others, but they can easily expand their range and populations. Once they find a suitable environment, all they need is food for the adults and water for the eggs, larva, and pupa, and they can go through multiple generations a year. Also, California isn’t the only state they’ve decided to settle into. Aedes albopictus alone can be found in 43 states.

As with any species of mosquito, the concern around their inhabitance is centered around the diseases they can transmit. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are able to vector Zika, Chikungunya, and Dengue virus. Aedes mosquitoes are attracted to container water, and oftentimes are found breeding in small spaces, like tree holes, flower pots, and old tires. While some of the states they’re inhabiting enact county regulated mosquito abatement services, the Aedes mosquito’s attraction to stagnant water sources is demanding that population control be a communal effort.

Aedes mosquitoes are aggressive biters that often aim for your ankles and remain active throughout the day. Given their bold nature, it’s important to follow our 7 T’s of Mosquito Control, while also heeding the CDC’s directions for avoiding mosquito bites. For many parts of the country, mosquitoes and summer go together like California and palm trees. We hope for Southern California’s sake that their year-round summer doesn’t mean year-round bites.

Need to call in reinforcements to help you fight the bite? Contact your local Mosquito Squad today!