Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes Albopictus)
The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is a small black-and-white mosquito with a single white stripe down its back that bites aggressively during the day, especially in shaded yards and gardens. It arrived in Florida in 1986 inside shipments of used tires and is now found in all 67 counties, breeding in the containers, tires, plants and tree holes that hold water around South Florida homes.
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What Is the Asian Tiger Mosquito?
The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is an invasive mosquito originally from Asia. In the United States it was first documented in Texas in 1985, most likely carried in shipments of used tires imported for retreading and then moved along the highway system. It was found in Florida in 1986 at a tire dump near Jacksonville and spread fast. Today it is found in all 67 Florida counties, and the UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory describes it as having become the most common daytime pest mosquito biting people in the state.
In South Florida it is one of the three species Miami-Dade Mosquito Control typically sees and monitors, along with Aedes aegypti and the black salt marsh mosquito. Its arrival also changed the local mosquito community: the spread of Aedes albopictus correlates with a decline of Aedes aegypti in much of Florida, partly because tiger mosquito larvae compete better for food in shared containers. Aedes aegypti now holds on mostly in urban areas, while the CDC associates the tiger mosquito with thickets, trees and garden vegetation.
South Florida’s climate suits it well. In temperate regions this species survives winter as eggs, but in tropical and subtropical areas it is active year-round. Our heat, the May-to-October rainy season and yards full of shade trees, hedges, potted plants and bromeliads let it breed for much of the year. For an overview of all the mosquitoes in our area, see mosquitoes in South Florida.
How to Identify the Asian Tiger Mosquito
- Size: a medium-sized mosquito, about 2 to 10 millimeters long; males average about 20% smaller than females.
- Color: black, with a striking white stripe down the center of the back (scutum).
- Legs: black with white scales at the base of each leg segment, which makes them look banded.
- Males: as with all mosquitoes, males do not bite; only females take blood.
Asian tiger mosquito vs. Aedes aegypti: the CDC notes that both have white-banded legs, but Aedes aegypti has a silvery, lyre-shaped pattern on its back while the Asian tiger mosquito has a single silvery stripe down the middle. Aedes aegypti lives closer to people and often comes indoors; the tiger mosquito mostly bites, rests and lays eggs outdoors, in gardens and vegetation.
Asian tiger mosquito vs. Culex: the southern house mosquito is plain brown with no white stripe and is most active from dusk to dawn.
Life Cycle and Behavior
- Eggs: females lay their eggs one at a time on the inside walls of water-holding containers, just above the waterline. The eggs are black, oval and about 0.5 millimeter long. UF/IFAS reports they can survive drying out for up to a year, may need several floodings before they hatch, and are stimulated to hatch more by low oxygen levels in the water than by flooding or temperature.
- Larvae: the wigglers pass through four stages and feed on organic material in the water. They pupate after about 5 to 10 days.
- Pupae: the pupal stage lasts about two days before the adult emerges.
- Adults: a female needs a blood meal to develop her eggs. Like other Aedes, the CDC estimates the whole cycle from egg to adult takes about 7 to 10 days.
The Asian tiger mosquito is a daytime feeder that rests in shaded shrubs near the ground. UF/IFAS reports that biting peaks in the early morning and late afternoon, and both UF/IFAS and the CDC describe it as an aggressive, opportunistic biter. It has a wide host range: people, dogs and cats, other domestic animals and wildlife.
Like Aedes aegypti, it is a weak traveler. The CDC says Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus fly only a few blocks during their lifetime. If tiger mosquitoes are biting in your yard, they almost certainly hatched close by.
Signs of an Asian Tiger Mosquito Problem
- Bites in the daytime, especially in shaded parts of the yard.
- Small black mosquitoes with a white stripe and white-banded legs around you while you garden or sit outside.
- More biting in the early morning and late afternoon.
- Wigglers in tires, buckets, flower pot saucers, birdbaths, pet dishes or bromeliad cups.
- A spike in mosquitoes a week or so after the first heavy summer rain, when eggs that sat dry for months hatch all at once.
- Pets bothered by mosquitoes outdoors during the day.
Why Asian Tiger Mosquitoes Are a Problem
For most South Florida families, the problem is the bites. Because this mosquito is active during the day, when people are gardening, playing, grilling or relaxing by the pool, it can make shaded yards and patios uncomfortable for much of the year.
The Asian tiger mosquito can also carry viruses. UF/IFAS lists it as a laboratory-competent vector of more than 30 viruses, a few of which affect people, and its bromeliad publication notes it can transmit chikungunya, dengue and Zika. However, the CDC explains that it bites many animals that don’t carry dengue viruses, which lowers its ability to spread them, and calls it mostly a secondary dengue vector. UF/IFAS describes it as a less efficient vector than other Aedes mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti, and in Asia a maintenance vector that is only occasionally involved in dengue transmission. In Florida, it was implicated in eastern equine encephalitis transmission in one isolated 1991 incident in Polk County.
The Florida Department of Health tracks dengue, chikungunya, Zika and other mosquito-borne viruses weekly. Mosquito control programs monitor this species for these reasons, and avoiding bites remains the best way to protect your family.
Where Asian Tiger Mosquitoes Hide in South Florida Homes and Businesses
This species is tied to vegetation and outdoor containers. The CDC notes it is associated with thickets and tree vegetation and uses water-filled containers both near and farther from homes. Check:
- Tires: the classic breeding site; it reached Florida in a tire dump. Spare tires, tire swings and stored tires are prime spots.
- Garden containers: flower pots, saucers, watering cans, buckets and wheelbarrows.
- Water for animals and birds: pet bowls, livestock troughs, birdbaths and fountains.
- Plants and trees: tank bromeliads and natural tree holes. UF/IFAS confirms the Asian tiger mosquito breeds in Florida bromeliads.
- Roof and drainage: clogged gutters, rain barrels without screens and low spots that stay wet.
Adults spend the day resting in shaded shrubs, hedges and ground cover near the ground. On larger properties such as parks, schools, hotels, golf course communities and HOA common areas, dense landscaping, drains and stored equipment are common sources; our property management and commercial clients include these areas in regular service.
When Asian Tiger Mosquitoes Are Most Active in South Florida
| Season | Asian tiger mosquito activity | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| December to February (dry season) | Lower activity; mosquitoes slow down near 60°F and stop flying around 50°F, but eggs wait in dry containers for rain. | Remove tires and unused containers and scrub out the ones you keep. |
| March to May | Numbers rise with warmer days, irrigation and the first storms. | Start weekly checks of pots, saucers and bromeliads. |
| June to September (peak rainy season) | Peak breeding; repeated rains hatch eggs that have been dry for months. | Empty water after every storm and treat the yard regularly. |
| October to November | Still active in warm weather; storm debris holds water. | Clear hurricane debris, gutters and drains quickly. |
How to Prevent Asian Tiger Mosquitoes
UF/IFAS calls source reduction, getting rid of standing water, the most effective community approach. Use the Florida Department of Health’s Drain and Cover routine:
- Get rid of old tires, or drill drainage holes in tires used on playgrounds.
- Empty, scrub, turn over or cover buckets, pots, saucers, toys and wheelbarrows once a week.
- Change pet and bird water frequently and clean birdbaths at least weekly.
- Screen or cover rain barrels and keep gutters clean.
- Flush tank bromeliads at least weekly with a strong hose stream, or treat them with a Bti or methoprene larvicide following the label; consider bromeliads without a central tank for new plantings.
- Fill low spots in the yard that hold water, and keep an eye on tree holes, which can also breed mosquitoes.
- Wear long sleeves and pants and use a repellent with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535, following the label. Remember this mosquito bites during the day, not only at dusk.
- Keep screens on doors, windows and porches in good repair.
Container mosquitoes don’t fly far, so ask neighbors to do the same. You can also report heavy mosquito activity to your county program: 311 in Miami-Dade and Broward, 561-967-6480 in Palm Beach County, or the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District in Monroe County.
How Toro Gets Rid of Asian Tiger Mosquitoes
- Yard and landscape inspectionA Toro technician checks tires, pots, bromeliads, tree holes, gutters and drains, and the shaded shrubs and ground cover where tiger mosquitoes rest during the day.
- Identify the sourceWe confirm which mosquitoes are biting and where they are breeding, on your property or next to it, and recommend changes you can make right away.
- Targeted mosquito treatmentOur mosquito treatment focuses on breeding sites and the vegetation where adults rest, applied according to label directions.
- Season-long follow-upDry eggs keep hatching after every rain, so we recommend regular visits through the rainy season. Our 110% Satisfaction Guarantee means that if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
Toro Pest Management has protected South Florida homes and businesses since 1969, from Coral Gables and Hollywood to Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. We respond within 24 hours, guaranteed, and your first inspection is free with $25 off your first service. Call 305-594-4767. Hablamos Español.
Seeing signs of asian tiger mosquito? Get a free inspection and $25 off your first service.
Schedule Your Free InspectionAsian tiger mosquito: Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell an Asian tiger mosquito from other mosquitoes?
Look at its back. The Asian tiger mosquito is black with a single bright white or silvery stripe running down the center of the thorax, and its legs have white bands, which gives it its 'tiger' name. Aedes aegypti, its close relative, is also black and white but has a lyre-shaped pattern instead of one stripe. Culex mosquitoes are plain brown and bite mostly at night.
When do Asian tiger mosquitoes bite?
During the day. UF/IFAS describes the Asian tiger mosquito as a daytime feeder whose biting peaks in the early morning and late afternoon. It rests in shaded shrubs close to the ground and comes out to bite people working in the garden, playing in the yard or sitting on the patio. That is why many South Floridians notice it more than any other mosquito.
Are Asian tiger mosquitoes dangerous?
Mostly they are a serious nuisance. They can transmit dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses, but the CDC notes they bite many animals besides people, which lowers their ability to spread dengue, and UF/IFAS considers them a less efficient vector than Aedes aegypti. Still, they are monitored by mosquito control programs, and avoiding bites is the best protection.
Why are Asian tiger mosquitoes so aggressive?
The CDC and UF/IFAS describe the Asian tiger mosquito as an aggressive, opportunistic biter. It feeds during daylight, when people are outside, and it will bite humans, pets and wild animals. Because it breeds in small containers close to where people live, a yard with a few neglected flower pots or a pile of tires can produce a steady stream of hungry females.
Where do Asian tiger mosquitoes breed?
In small amounts of water held in containers and plants. Common sites are old tires, flower pots and saucers, buckets, birdbaths, pet and animal water dishes, rain barrels, clogged gutters, tank bromeliads and natural tree holes. Females lay eggs on the inside walls of these containers, just above the waterline, and the eggs hatch when rain raises the water level.
How long do Asian tiger mosquito eggs survive?
A long time. UF/IFAS reports the eggs can survive drying out for up to a year, and they may need to be flooded several times before they hatch. That is why a flower pot or tire that has been dry for months can suddenly produce mosquitoes after the first summer storms, and why containers should be emptied and scrubbed, not just tipped over once.
Does mosquito fogging kill Asian tiger mosquitoes?
Area-wide spraying is less effective against container mosquitoes like the Asian tiger mosquito. Palm Beach County mosquito control notes that aerial and ground spraying has little effect on container breeders, and UF/IFAS reports that populations have shown tolerance to some insecticides. Removing standing water, combined with targeted treatment of breeding and resting sites, works better.
Related Pests
Pest Control Across South Florida
Toro treats asian tiger mosquito in homes and businesses throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, including:
- Miami
- Hialeah
- Doral
- Miami Beach
- Coral Gables
- Homestead
- Fort Lauderdale
- Hollywood
- Pembroke Pines
- Miramar
- Boca Raton
- West Palm Beach
Last updated: October 29, 2026
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