The U.S. East Coast has been plagued by an Asian mosquito species relatively new to the region that has been dubbed "the urban mosquito," scientists say.
Entomologists say the Asian tiger mosquito is vicious, hard to kill and, unlike most native mosquitoes, will bite during the daytime.
It also prefers large cities to rural or marshy areas, thus earning its "urban" nickname, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week.
"Part of the reason it is called 'tiger' is also because it is very aggressive," said Dina Fonseca, a professor of entomology at Rutgers University. "You can try and swat it all you want, but once it's on you, it doesn't let go. Even if it goes away, it will be back for a bite."
Cities, often 5 to 10 degrees warmer than rural areas, are seeing tiger mosquitoes earlier and the insects are hanging around longer, often into October.
The species has been traced to 1985, when a ship loaded with used truck tires from Japan docked in Texas.
From there the bugs made their way to Florida and up the East Coast.
Another species imported from Asia is the rock pool mosquito, which also came to the United States through the tire trade, experts say.
"Even though it is not as vicious a biter as the Asian tiger mosquito, it is a big pest," she says.
Both species are what entomologists call "container mosquitoes" that can breed in small, artificial containers, such as tires, toys, cans and concrete structures.
"A rule of thumb for container mosquitoes is: Water plus seven days equals mosquitoes," Fonseca says.
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