Tiger mosquito: how to recognize it?

With sunny days, itching and red blisters also return. The mosquito bites. Most of the time, these remain more annoying than dangerous for our health. But with the proliferation of departments in which have been reported tiger mosquitoes – aedes albopictus, for scientists – the situation could well change. Because these mosquitoes have the unfortunate tendency to be disease vectors.

In the meantime, here are some characteristics that help distinguish the villain tiger mosquito of his almost sympathetic common cousin. First, and this is not nothing, note that the tiger mosquito is a mosquito diurnal. It generally attacks at daybreak or at dusk. Unlike the common mosquito which prefers the night.

Identifying the tiger mosquito: the different distinctive signs

Side physicalagain, there are real differences between the two species of mosquitoes. The tiger mosquito remains relatively small. No more than two millimeters in general against up to seven millimeters for its cousin. Its wings appear entirely black and not transparent like those of the common mosquito. And above all, it has a very black body – and legs – white striped. More like a zebra than a tiger, actually. But in full flight, it is not always easy to observe.

Other distinctive signs:

• its flight is rather slow and disorderly. And he is silent as the common mosquito makes noise when it flies ;
• its bite is sharper than that of a common mosquito;
• it is mainly found in peri-urban or urban areas, preferably dense, rich in water reservoirs (flower pots, watering cans, guttersetc.).

Now that you have all the cards in hand to identify the villain, do not hesitate, if you cross his path, to report him on this site dedicated to its monitoring.