The Asian Tiger Mosquito, a breed of the pest that enjoys daytime hunting and has been known to carry the West Nile virus, has expanded its territory into Pennsylvania.
The Asian Tiger Mosquito, a breed of the pest that enjoys daytime hunting and has been known to carry the West Nile virus, has expanded its territory into Pennsylvania.
The mosquito is also known to be particularly aggressive, having the ability to put an end to outdoor activities and make otherwise active neighborhoods appear desolate.
So far, the ones invading the southwestern portion of the state have come up negative for disease, but experts say that allowing them to get comfortable in any location is generally not advised.
The breed is identified by and named for the black and white stripes on its body and legs and hails from Southeast Asia. It’s thought that the mosquito traveled on a tire shipping boat in the 1980s.
Since then it’s been expanding its territories in the Midwest, South, and East Coast where it’s claimed the turf of other, less intrusive, breeds.
As mosquitoes can reproduce in as little as a teaspoon of water, it’s recommended that all standing water be remedied.
Filling holes where puddles form, draining wading pools daily, and keeping birdbaths fresh are all suggested.
