Skip to main content
Today is National Trails Day!
Close

Tiger mosquito

Aedes albopictus

Photo by sunnyjosef
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

9.98504, 76.343

Field Notes

Description:

Beware of them during this monsoon!!!!
Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), Vector of Dengue and Chikungunya virus is in abundance during monsoons. Prefers fresh water for breeding. A viciously biting mosquito, this one causes more human deaths than many other deceases in humans. The white patches and dots are a clear indicator of the Aedes mosquito. The bite causes severe itching after the mosquito leaves.

Habitat:

Peaks during the rainy season as it only breads on fresh clean water. Prefers to live close to human habitation.

Notes:

The picture shows a female, bloated with blood.

Reference Links:

Aedes albopictus

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (27)
sunnyjosef
Thank you Gilma for your comments.As you have said,.not leaving fresh water around is the most effective way of controlling their population...
Gilma Jeannette Ospino Ferreira-Norman
Congratulations on the very well deserved SOTD, sunnyjosef. Here in Costa Rica we are trying hard to keep our properties free of puddles and still water because that is how they breed, but as you said it is very hard in rainy season, all we can really do is hope that if sting by one, it does not have any disease.
staccyh
Feisty little guys aren't they! Nice photos.
Kyle A
Great photo. Congrats on SotD.
sunnyjosef
Thank you Sckel, António, Maria and drbm1005... Maria, the product you mentioned is available in India online.. but very expensive to be effectively used locally. As we are used to their bites for long.. I may be somewhat immune to them.. Any how, thanks for your concern and let us hope for the best.
Maria dB
It is an amazing series, Sunny; I sincerely hope you don't become ill. In the USA, there is a product called mosquito dunk that you put in water and it kills mosquito larvae (it doesn't harm fish). Is that available where you live? (I know it wouldn't be a feasible product for the whole country but individuals with some money could use it around their homes.) I read that some scientists are working on modifying mosquito reproduction in the fight against malaria: http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1530276/british-scientists-modify-mosquitoes-breed-mostly-males-fight-against
Sckel
congratulations sunnyjosef
sunnyjosef
Thank you Yasser and projectnoah for selecting this scourge of mankind across the tropics as SOTD. Tiz, Marta and all the others who have favorited this spotting......... Thank you so much.
Tiz
Great photo! I guess it is worth sacrificing a bit of blood for a SOTD :) Congratulations!
Yasser
Sunny, for putting yourself out there in the name of science and nature photography, we must award you Spotting of the Day honors! :) Thanks for sharing such an incredibly detailed and fascinating set of photos and we hope the swelling and itchiness wasn't too bad after this bite. Congrats! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10150595289465603.674700.10150120463815603/10154251833085603/?type=1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/477845774324101121
sunnyjosef
Thank you my friends for your comments the concern... Neil Ross and beaker, yes, it is from my hand that she draws her blood. Gilma, theoretically one bite is all it takes to transmit the Dengue virus to humans, If it carries the virus. As I live in Cochin, a mosquito prone area, I have been bitten many times. Hope this one does not have the virus. The shot was made when I was photographing a spider in my garden and suddenly felt a pain in my hand. When I looked I saw the mosquito bloated with blood on my left hand and took the shot with the other hand. Hema, the most effective control for this mosquito is not to have fresh water pooled around our homes. A small container like a bottle cap turned up and filled with the rain water is all it takes for them to lay their eggs. Very difficult during this monsoon!! Thank you one again and take care!!
HemaShah
any tips for effective mosquito control?
Neil Ross
Giving your life for science, Sunny? Amazing photos and great info. I lived in PNG for a few years and there was a similar-sized, nasty mosquito. Industrial strength!!!
beaker98
I hope that's not your skin it's sinking into!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
National Geographic's Great Nature Project
Mission
2014 Best Wildlife Photo
Photographed
PublishedJune 13, 2014

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies