Just as swarms of cicadas are beginning to die out, New Jersey residents have a new bug to fear: the Asian tiger mosquito.
Known for its ability to spread disease among its hosts, the tiger mosquito will be appearing in N.J. soon. The insect is known to come out at all hours of the day according the Associated Press.
The Asian tiger mosquito named for its black-and-white striped legs and body markings and was first discovered in 1995.
Pete Rendine, chief inspector with the mosquito control division of the Bergen County Public Works Department, said Asian tiger mosquitoes "are the worst, nuisance-wise, because they are adapting to our climate."
"The Asian tiger mosquito is an extremely aggressive insect that has largely supplanted japonicus since 2008, especially in urban and suburban areas," Eric Green, the mosquito control officer for Passaic County, told The Record.
The Asian tiger mosquito is known to spread a number of viral diseases from around the world including the West Nile, dengue fever, and chikugunya fever according to the Associated Press.
Among the 63 different species of mosquito known to exist in New Jersey, and many breed in remote woodland areas and have very short ranges.
"The thing is, if homeowners would only clean up their property we would not even have an albopictus problem," said Pete Rendine, the Bergen County chief inspector.
A major source of mosquito breeding is water, especially at abandoned swimming pools behind foreclosed homes according to Green. Water left standing in the open for over five days is an "open invitation" for mosquitoes.
Rendine said even a discarded bottlecap holds enough water to allow Asian tiger mosquito eggs to hatch into larvae, and a neglected kiddie pool or clogged gutter can turn into a breeding location.
"If everybody did their part, this mosquito could be eliminated," Green said.
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