Eliminate places where mosquitoes lay eggs by using this checklist ASIAN TIGER Dump and drain all standing water around your home every 5 days. MOSQUITO

(  Discard or store inside all unused containers, Aedes albopictus) cans, buckets, or old tires.

 Remove all water dishes/plant saucers from beneath potted plants.

Photo courtesy of Susan Ellis, Bugwood.org  Dispose of trash and recycle un-used contain- ers.

 Clean out rain gutters and lawn drains to en- sure water does not collect. Mosquito control starts at home. Talk to

 Seal rain barrels to prevent mosquitoes from your neighbors about eliminating all wa- entering and laying eggs. ter-holding containers. We can all work

together to control the Asian tiger mos-  Empty bird baths and small fountains and quito which will make a difference in New scrub them to remove the eggs weekly. Hanover County and protect our way of

 Treat large containers that cannot be emptied life. with an insecticide that targets mosquito larvae Photo courtesy of Susan Ellis, Bugwood.org (e.g. unmaintained swimming pool).

**** No water = No mosquitoes **** Easy steps to reduce mosquitoes and protect yourself from mosquito bites

Standing water + 7 days = mosquitoes

 Flower pots/saucers  Truck beds/vehicles  Kids toys and pools  Cups, caps, bottles New Hanover County  Tarps  Lids of containers  Boats/kayaks Glass containers  Buckets  Corrugated pipe Environmental Health  Coolers/pots/pans  Air conditioning units Vector Control  Construction sites  Lawn equipment 230 Government Center Drive, Suite 140  Old appliances  Tree holes Wilmington, NC 28403  Pet bowls (fill with sand)  Wheelbarrows  Basketball base (910) 798-6667  Metal containers  Containers under “TIP AND TOSS”  Trash/recycle bins decks and shrubs www.health.nhcgov.com  Watering cans

Background Mosquito Life Cycle Personal Protection

The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is  Apply insect repellents that contain an EPA an aggressive biting mosquito that was brought registered active ingredient such as DEET, to the United States during the 1980’s in used Picaridin, Oil of lemon eucalyptus, and truck tires shipped from Japan. Now it is found IR3535 which may prevent bites from mos- as far north as New York and in the south and quitoes and other biting insects. Follow label southeastern United States, including North Car- directions. olina. There are 44 different types of mosqui-  Stay inside when mosquitoes are most ac- toes in New Hanover County, but the Asian tiger tive, usually at dawn and dusk. However, mosquito is unique for the reasons listed below. the Asian tiger mosquito is a day biter and is usually active in the early morning and late Asian Tiger Mosquito Characteristics afternoon.

 They can transmit diseases such as West  Wear light-colored clothes that cover your  They need very little water to complete their Nile virus, Zika virus, Chikungunya, and arms and legs, especially when you have to Dengue fever to humans; and heartworm to life cycle (only 1/8” of water). be outside when mosquitoes are active.

pets.  Even small containers can produce hun-  Keep mosquitoes from entering your home.  It actively bites during the day, mostly in the dreds of larvae. Make sure screens/doors are repaired and early morning or late afternoon (before sun- are tight fitting and air conditioners work.  It takes 7-10 days to go from egg to adult. set).  One female mosquito can lay up to 500 eggs  It lays eggs on the sides of man-made con- in its lifetime.

tainers and in tree holes close to homes and  The average life expectancy of an adult businesses. mosquito is about 3 weeks.

 Their eggs are not harmed by dry or cold  It does not fly far, usually less than 500 feet. weather and hatch when eggs are flooded in Therefore, if you have this mosquito, most likely it is coming from containers nearby. warmer months.

 They can be found around the house from Are spray trucks useful against the late April through early November. Asian tiger mosquito?

 It does not fly far and is most likely to be Mosquito spray trucks, or Ultra Low Volume cold found close to its breeding place. foggers, are designed to work at night when tem- peratures are cooler. The Asian tiger mosquito  It is a weak flyer (typically bites below the prefers to fly during daylight hours. The best waist). control strategy to battle the tiger mosquito is  By dumping the larvae from containers source reduction or “TIP and TOSS” all contain- every 5 days, you will drastically reduce  It is a very small mosquito, measuring about ers holding water around the house. the adult Asian tiger mosquito population 1/8 inch long. (mosquito larvae cannot survive out of water).  It has black and white stripes on its body and legs. There is a single white stripe down the center of its head and back. These stripes give it the name “tiger” mosquito.