Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus)

How to Identify Them

It's striking up close: jet black with white bands on the legs and a single white stripe running down the center of its back. It bites during the day, especially in shade, and often bites repeatedly.

Common look-alikes:

• Yellow fever mosquito: has a white lyre-shaped pattern instead of a single stripe. See our yellow fever mosquito page.

Signs of a Problem

• Persistent daytime bites in shady parts of the yard
• Mosquitoes around shrubs, hedges and ground cover
• Larvae in tree holes, planters and containers

Breeding-Site Checklist

• Empty containers weekly.
• Fill or treat tree holes.
• Remove old tires and debris.
• Keep gutters flowing.
• Thin dense ground cover where adults rest.

Where Adults Hide in Your Yard

Asian tiger mosquitoes don't fly far. They rest in cool, humid, shaded spots during the hottest part of the day, then bite when you walk by. Common resting places include the underside of leaves in hedges, ground covers like liriope and ferns, the shade under decks and patio furniture, behind A/C units, and the dense plants along fences and side yards. Those are the areas we target when treating with a backpack fogger. Trimming lower branches and thinning very dense plantings near seating areas and doors helps air move and makes these spots less comfortable for resting mosquitoes.

Protecting Your Family Outdoors

When you're spending time outside, especially in the morning and late afternoon, use an EPA-registered insect repellent following label directions, and consider long sleeves in heavily shaded areas. Fans on the lanai can also help because mosquitoes are weak fliers.