An aggressive, biting insect is buzzing around Kentucky this summer. What to know
Asian tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) are found in more than 900 countries, including in the U.S., where it’s considered invasive and has spread to 26 states since it was introduced.
That includes Kentucky, and more specifically, the Lexington-metro area. During the summer and fall, about 90% of mosquito bites humans receive in the Lexington area can be attributed to the Asian tiger mosquito population, according to University of Kentucky entomologists.
In other parts of the world, it’s responsible for spreading diseases like Dengue fever, and here in the U.S. it’s a carrier of West Nile virus, encephalitis and possibly Zika virus. That’s according to experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the University of Kentucky.
Here’s what to know about Asian tiger mosquitoes in Kentucky and how to protect yourself if you’re outdoors this summer.
How do you identify an Asian tiger mosquito?
You’ll know you’re dealing with this type of mosquito if it’s particularly persistent. Asian tiger mosquitoes likely won’t back down from a few attempted swats, unlike other species, which some research suggests can learn to avoid you after swatting, according to one 2018 study published in the journal Current Biology.
The Asian tiger mosquito is white-and-black striped and is known to be an aggressive biter.
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What’s the ideal Asian tiger mosquito habitat?
Asian tiger mosquitoes prefer small, water-filled containers, and they won’t lay their eggs in ditches or marshes, unlike other species. That’s according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, as Asian tiger mosquitoes are also a problem in that state.
They can breed in natural and artificial containers, even those filled with small amounts of water. That includes containers you’d commonly keep around your house, like flower pots, discarded tires, bird baths and leaf-clogged gutters.
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Asian tiger mosquito threats to humans
This type of mosquito diverges from the other species in that they are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. Other mosquito species are crepuscular, or active during dawn and dusk.
The Asian tiger mosquito’s peak feeding times are early morning and late afternoon.
While this variety of mosquito can carry viruses, there have been no reports of transmission of Dengue, chikungunya or the Zika virus, though Kentucky does have documented spread of the West Nile virus in years past.
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How to protect yourself from Asian tiger mosquitoes in Kentucky
The best way to stop the spread of Asian tiger mosquitoes is to eliminate or reduce standing water sources on your property.
You should regularly check your gutters for clogs, empty out and clean containers that hold water and make sure everything is draining properly. Additionally, consider wearing long sleeves and using mosquito repellent or minimize your time outside during their peak feeding hours in the early morning and late afternoon.
If you have a bird or bee bath in your backyard and don’t want to get rid of it, buy mosquito dunks at the hardware store to prevent the bath from becoming a breeding ground.
Look for dunks that primarily contain the bacteria bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, often abbreviated as BTI. BTI bacteria produce toxins that target the larvae of mosquitoes and black flies, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. BTI mosquito dunks do not affect other types of beneficial insects, like honeybees.
They also have the benefit of being cheap, can cover a wide area of standing water (one dunk covers 100 feet), and each individual dunk is good for about a month. Once applied, mosquitoes will continue to lay eggs in the standing water, but their larvae will not survive, effectively ending their life cycle.
The dunks are also effective against fungus gnat infestations in houseplants. Adult fungus gnats only live for one to two weeks, meaning one to two months of watering plants with a dunk in your can should rid you of your fungus gnat problem.
Do you have a question about insects in Kentucky for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.
