Project of the mind

Asonn Guzman

Mr. Skipper

Encounters 8

March 1, 2023

Aedes albopictus

 The recurring plague.

Introduction

Many animals are endangered because of the circumstances in which they live however some species have sheer numbers making there too many of them. These are called invasive species. They could be considered nuisances, plagues, or pests, especially the Asian tiger Mosquito. they can be a bother to some animals and ecosystems however they are most dangerous to humans. The fact that they aren't as big as other animals doesn't make them any less threatening or problematic; they have been spreading everywhere since 1985 when they were first introduced to texas. They are a threat not only because of their numbers, spreading rates, and adaptive capability but because they are some of the most efficiently deadly disease carriers the world has ever seen. They have been known to infect or kill over 250,000 people per year. Asian tiger mosquitos are aggressive day biters and are considered a pest that should at least be controlled or eradicated. In plain sight, it might just be a bug to some however, if you zoom in a little they are a lot stranger and rather ugly than they appear.

Taxonomy and Description

The Asian Tiger Mosquito is a small little black-and-white pest. It may look harmless but when there is one it is guaranteed that there will be more. It is a winged bug in the genus of Aedes Meigen and is Given its name because of its white and black stripe patterning. It has a straight white line from the back of its head to the middle of its torso and banded legs (Asian tiger mosquitos). Eco Access states it is a very aggressive species of mosquito that bites during the day (The Asian Tiger Mosquito Aedes Albopictus). It possesses a long and narrow proboscis (nose) that they use to feed themselves. They also have compound eyes and see things in slow motion. This helps them dodge all the swats they receive when they enter a human's house and all the objects that are thrown at them. Their eggs are clear and look like standard insect eggs while their larvae look like whole different organisms. Their appearance is rather ugly and they have little chunks of hair. They're also long but small at the same time. The Asian Tiger Mosquitoes pupa looks like a shrimp just that instead of having a bright red coloration it's a lot more opaque ¨this being due to its dark brown color¨(The Asian Tiger Mosquito Aedes Albopictus)

Introduction To Non-Native Habitat

The Asian tiger mosquito's adaptations and way of reproduction have favored it in spreading its range to other continents and states. As its name suggests Asian tiger mosquitos originated from the continent of Asia. They have been marked as container breeders; a very unique way of reproducing. Firstly, many other species of mosquito lay their eggs in ponds, marshes, and other bodies of water. This is very known amongst insectivores in the area, so for their eggs to hatch safely Asian tiger mosquitos instead lay their eggs in small or insulated spaces where water can accumulate. An example of this would be, tires which is the way they got to North America in the first place. These Mosquitos laid their eggs in tires in Asia which were later exported by ship. There they had enough time to hatch and drink blood from the people who boarded the ship and then kept reproducing. The cycle went on until they got to America, and from there they started to spread as fast as wildfire. Another advantage that the Asian Tiger Mosquito has is its wide range of climate tolerance. This trait has helped it spread and be resistant to colder and hotter temperatures when it becomes introduced to a new environment such as Chicago which is cold and Florida which is hot. Another very big thing is that it has drought-resistant eggs. This helps a lot since it's a container breeder. Sometimes water gets poured or emptied of containers leaving the eggs without water this can also happen in the wild when they lay their eggs in leaves containing water puddles, but for some reason the, eggs fall off. This is why they were thought to originally be an arboreal species of mosquito; despite these things, they will keep developing and eventually hatch thanks to their capability of having drought-resistant eggs. With all these abilities it has been able to get to North America and various countries like ¨Florida and Georgia, North to Maryland and Delaware, and as far as west Chicago, Minnesota and Nebraska¨ (Eco Access).

Conclusion study control and eradication

Aedes albopictus more commonly known as the Asian tiger mosquito is a very pesky and problem-making species. And worst of all it is also dangerous to us humans because it is an efficient disease carrier. Infestations of these little critters are possible and signs of these according to Pestworld.org could include their appearing bites on the skin and the buzzing of the female and male mosquitos however one of the biggest signs that an infestation is taking place is that there are larvae of the Asian tiger mosquito in nearby water sources. These immature mosquitoes aren't necessarily found in pools or ponds but can also be found in more restricted areas like a water puddle in a tire, a part of the house, and even in old vases. They could be scattered around anywhere because of their unusual habit of not putting their eggs in the open. However, this problem has been taken notice of and it is now being worked on. People all over the globe have eradicated Asian tiger mosquitos by removing all the potential breeding grounds for the species. An example of this could be gutters, old bottles, tree holes, and the water in birdbaths. However, if they are still present in your home there are other methods to eradicate them insecticide sprays are an easy but effective way of getting rid of them. Barrier treatments are used by spraying surfaces where mosquitos are likely to be present and unsurprisingly it works well. While Asian tiger mosquitoes are a threat to us we are slowly becoming a threat to them; lots of things are being done to prevent these species from causing any damage economically and environmentally. Soon they will be under our control.

Adverse Effects

Asian tiger Mosquitos besides being pesky bug is also very ecologically damaging insect. It is a natural disease carrier known to carry over three types of diseases. This insect affects humans a lot making it have one of the worst effects on us and can be deadly. One of those diseases is the West Nile virus. This virus can cause severe illnesses like high fever vision loss and death. Dengue fever is an atrocious disease it can cause internal bleeding and organ damage, it will also increase the blood pressure of someone to a very dangerous level that could even result in death however it isn't a common thing to happen. It can also cause breathing to be harder and more painful to do. Chikungunya is a disease that can cause lots of pain mostly in your joints and it also has a fever, joint swelling, muscle pain, headaches, nausea, and fatigue could be considered its symptoms. Japanese encephalitis is another virus that can be spread by the bites of these mosquitoes. Most people get weak or have no symptoms at all. However, symptoms can include fever headaches, and vomiting severe symptoms include comas and seizures. They can also transmit canine heartworm. The Asian tiger Mosquito is a serious disease transmitter and is one of the worst spreaders out there. Not only are they a huge disease carrier but they're also a threat to the population because they have been expanding through lots of regions and states causing mass infestations and making lots of citizens unhappy. According to Pest World.org, one of the most significant signs of an infestation of this mosquito is if you have seen not fully grown mosquitos in places where water is present like abandoned dog bowls, tires, and even pots. Another indication is if you have been bitten by mosquitoes a lot recently. If there are lots of mosquito bite marks on your skin, you most likely have an infestation going on, and if the places where the bites are at are swelling, that means it was pretty recently. These are the negative effects these mosquitos can have on the world. These mosquitos have to be stopped from their doing.

Works Cited

¨Aedes Albopictus-factsheet for experts.¨ European Center for Disease Prevention and   Control, www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/disease-vectors/facts/mosquito-fact sheets/aedes-albopictus

¨Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito.¨Bioagents, eu.biogents.com/aedes-albopictus-asian-tiger-mosquitoes/

¨Asian Tiger Mosquito.¨Pest World.org, Pest Management Association, www .pestworld.org /pest - guide/mosquitoes/asian-tiger-mosquitoes/.

Nagasaki, Eric.¨ Aedes Albopictus the Asian Tiger Mosquito.¨ Dauphin County West Nile Virus Control Program, www.dauphincd.org/Mosquito%20Control/Aedes %20albopictus.