Original illustration by PestControlBasics.com. Use anatomical labels above to confirm your identification. For photo references, see the identification section below.
🔍 Identification
5-10mm; distinctive jet black with bold white stripes (including a single white stripe down the thorax); smaller and more agile than common mosquitoes. Active throughout the day — peak activity morning and late afternoon but bites any time. Highly aggressive biters. Range: now established in 40+ US states, spreading northward.
🧬 Biology & Behavior
Invasive from Asia; arrived in US in 1985 via used tire trade. Breeds in micro-containers: bottle caps, bromeliad leaf axils, plant saucers, bamboo holes, tree holes, and any container holding as little as 1/4 teaspoon of water for 7 days. This micro-container breeding makes source elimination far more challenging than with Culex mosquitoes. Vectors dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and La Crosse encephalitis.
⚠️ Damage & Health Risk
Aggressive, painful daytime biting; potential dengue, Zika, and chikungunya transmission in outbreak situations; La Crosse encephalitis transmission in Midwest/Southeast; severe nuisance impact on outdoor activities.
🔧 DIY Treatment
Weekly elimination of every container holding water — including very small ones others overlook (bottle caps, bromeliad axils, tree holes, corrugated corrugated metal cavities). Bti Bits in any water that can't be eliminated. Permethrin-treated clothing. DEET or picaridin on skin. Vegetation spray (bifenthrin) in yard — tiger mosquitoes rest in dense vegetation.
👷 When to Call a Pro
Community-wide control programs addressing breeding sources across neighborhoods are more effective than individual property treatment for this species.