Asian Tiger Mosquito Facts & Information

What You Can Do to Get Rid of Asian Tiger Mosquitoes

The single most effective thing you can do is eliminate the standing water they breed in. Take away their nursery, and you take away the next generation.

• Empty standing water daily. Dump out birdbaths, buckets, plant saucers, and pet bowls every day.

• Clean out gutters and ditches. Clogged gutters are a favorite breeding site—keep them clear and draining.

• Cover water containers. If you can't empty a container, seal it with a tight-fitting lid.

• Clear the clutter. Remove old tires, unused pots, and any junk that collects rainwater.

• Trim shaded vegetation. Cutting back overgrowth reduces the cool resting spots adults prefer.

Orkin Asian Tiger Mosquito Pest Control

Your local Orkin Pro is trained to help manage Asian tiger mosquitoes and similar pests. Since every building or home is different, your Orkin Pro will design a unique mosquito treatment program for your situation.

Contact your local Orkin branch for help with mosquito control.

What do Asian tiger mosquitoes look like?

Good news: this mosquito is one of the easier ones to identify. Its markings are distinctive enough that a quick look usually gives it away.

• Size: Small, measuring about 1/4-inch (roughly 5 mm) long.

• Color: A black body with a single white stripe running down the center of its back and silvery-white bands on its legs. Those bold stripes are exactly how it earned the "tiger" name.

• Legs: Striped black and white, adding to its unmistakable appearance.

How to Tell Males From Female Asian tiger mosquitoes

Only the females bite. Males feed exclusively on plant nectar, while females use an elongated mouthpart called a proboscis to draw blood. That blood meal isn't for nourishment—it fuels the development of their eggs.

Where do Asian tiger mosquitoes live?

Asian tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) are also known as forest day mosquitoes. Native to Southeast Asia, these mosquitoes have spread across the globe. It first hitchhiked into the U.S. in the mid-1980s aboard shipments of used tires, and it hasn't looked back since.

Today, this adaptable pest is found in at least 26 states, including much of the southeastern U.S., Texas, California, and Hawaii. It favors warm, humid southern climates but has turned up as far north as the Great Lakes region. Its distribution within any given state can vary based on climate, rainfall, and available breeding sites.

Common Habitats Around Your Home

Asian tiger mosquitoes are remarkably flexible about where they set up shop. They tend to gravitate toward:

• Urban and suburban areas: Neighborhoods offer plenty of artificial containers that collect standing water.

• Small water-holding objects: Flower pots, birdbaths, discarded tires, clogged gutters, and any outdoor item that catches rainwater make ideal breeding spots.

• Shaded, vegetated areas: When they aren't feeding, these mosquitoes like to rest in cool, plant-filled spots.

Their numbers tend to spike during warm, rainy stretches when standing water is easy to find.

Asian Tiger Mosquito Lifespan

Like all mosquitoes, the Asian tiger goes through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

1. Egg: Females lay eggs—up to 500 in a lifetime—near standing water in containers, puddles, birdbaths, and tires.

2. Larva: After rainfall, eggs hatch into larvae, often called "wrigglers" for the way they swim near the water's surface.

3. Pupa: The larvae develop into pupae, staying tucked inside protective cases as they mature.

4. Adult: Adults emerge from the water, mate, and begin the cycle again—often within two weeks under ideal conditions.

Adult Asian tiger mosquitoes live about three weeks, and their limited flight range means they usually stay close to where they hatched. This species is also a survivor: its eggs can withstand dry and cold conditions, thriving year-round in tropical climates and re-emerging each warm season in areas with four distinct seasons.

Understanding Asian Tiger Mosquito Bites

Asian tiger mosquitoes are persistent, aggressive biters that feed on people, pets, and wildlife alike. What sets them apart is their timing and their habit of biting more than once during a single feeding.

• They bite during the day. Peak activity happens in the early morning and late afternoon, not just at dusk.

• They bite repeatedly. A single female may bite several times in one feeding session, leaving you with more than a few itchy welts.

The bites themselves usually aren't painful, but they can be more than a nuisance. Because this species can carry disease, repeated bites raise the stakes.

When to Call in the Pros

You can knock down breeding sites on your own, but a persistent population, or a yard you'd actually like to enjoy, often calls for professional help. That's where we come in.

Your local Orkin Pro is trained to manage Asian tiger mosquitoes and similar pests. Because no two homes are alike, your Orkin Pro will inspect your property and design a mosquito treatment plan built specifically for your situation, so you can get back to backyard barbecues and evening strolls without becoming the main course.

More Resources for Mosquitoes

Learn more about mosquitoes, their behavior, and ways to help protect your home:

• Mosquito Control – Learn how professional mosquito control can help reduce mosquito populations around your property.

• Where Do Mosquitoes Live and Breed? – Discover common mosquito breeding areas and steps you can take to eliminate standing water.

• Mosquito Life Cycle – Learn about the different stages of mosquito development and how they reproduce.

• Mosquito Bites – Find out what mosquito bites look like and how to help prevent them.

• Mosquito Prevention – Explore practical tips for reducing mosquito activity around your home.

• Mosquitoes That Look Like Asian Tiger Mosquitoes – Learn how to distinguish mosquitoes from other insects that may look similar.