Don’t put away the bug spray yet. ‘Aggressive’ tiger mosquitoes are a common NC fall pest
Even as the weather begins to cool across the Carolinas with the arrival of fall, mosquitoes remain a nuisance in the region.
One particular type of bug — an invasive species known as the tiger mosquito — has been especially prevalent and is known for its ability to spread diseases such as West Nile Virus.
Here’s what to know about tiger mosquitoes, their presence in North Carolina and how to combat them:
What’s a tiger mosquito?
Asian tiger mosquitoes, often referred to as tiger mosquitoes, are a breed of mosquito that arrived in the continental U.S. in 1985, according to the National Invasive Species Information Center.
They’re known for “aggressive daytime human-biting behavior” and an “ability to vector many viruses,” the group says.
The tiger mosquito can be “easily identified by its distinct white and black striped legs and body,” the NC State extension service explains.
Are there tiger mosquitoes in North Carolina?
Tiger mosquitoes are “one of at least 60 types of mosquito found in North Carolina,” according to NC State’s extension service, and are considered the “state’s worst mosquito species.”
The species “is of particular concern because it can spread diseases to humans and animals, including West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, as well as heartworms to dogs and cats,” the group notes.
Mosquito season in NC
“Mosquito season” in the Carolinas typically runs from spring through the end of October, with activity tending to trail off as the weather starts to cool.
But even as fall sets in the region, tiger mosquitoes are still buzzing around. There’s even been an uptick in them in neighboring South Carolina, The Island Packet reported.
How to protect yourself from mosquitoes
The tiger mosquito is “different” from other mosquito breeds, per the NC State extension service, because it “prefers to breed in small pockets of water where natural enemies cannot survive” as opposed to “ditches, swamps, marshes, and other permanent bodies of water.”
They’re also “weak flyers,” so they tend to stay close to where they hatched.
“The most important thing you can do to reduce Asian mosquito populations in your yard is to eliminate breeding sites by regularly tipping out any container that holds water and tossing items that are not needed,” the extension service advises.
That includes birdbaths, buckets, wheelbarrows, pet bowls, gutters and old tires.
“Community wide spray programs” or spraying or fogging your own yard has little impact on tiger mosquitoes, NC State says, but “personal repellents” like bug spray can be effective.
“Overall, products containing the insecticide DEET have proven to be most effective, though products containing oil from the lemon eucalyptus tree have performed as well as low concentrations of DEET in university studies,” the extension service says.
This story was originally published October 5, 2022 at 12:25 PM.
