Controlling the Asian Tiger Mosquito, a Potential Zika Vector, is Possible but Difficult

[Gert van der Hoek]

June 29, 2016

Is there a tiger lurking in your neighborhood? The Asian tiger mosquito,Aedes albopictus, is spreading in the U.S. and its preferred habitat is urban and suburban areas. Unfortunately Ae. albopictus is not simply a nuisance at backyard barbecues — the mosquito is a potential vector for Zika as well as other viruses which pose serious health threats. And many of the techniques that we have successfully used to control other species of mosquitoes are ineffective against Ae. albopictus. U.S. mosquito control programs need to adopt a new toolkit, and fast.

In the latest issue of the Journal of Medical Entomology, mosquito researchers Dr. Ary Faraji and Dr. Isik Unlu review current control techniques for both adult and larval Ae. albopictus. The good news is that there are many tools that may help tame this tiger and the viruses it spreads. But there is no magic silver bullet. Successful control of Ae. albopictus will require an integrated program of several control techniques as well as significant community engagement and cooperation.​

A related mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is the main vector for the Zika virus in tropical regions like Brazil. But Ae. albopictus is also capable of transmitting Zika as well as other arboviruses like chikungunya and dengue (“Arbovirus” is a medical term for an ARthropod BOrne virus). Ae. albopictus is somewhat less likely than Ae. aegypti to spread viruses to humans because it also bites animals. But Ae. albopictus has a wider geographic range in the U.S. Because it can tolerate cooler temperatures, it can survive at higher latitudes and has already spread to Vermont, New Hampshire, and parts of Minnesota.

Faraji and Unlu review more than 15 techniques that may be used to control Ae. albopictus larvae and adults, but the authors are very clear that no single technique will be sufficient to control Ae. albopictus. Instead, control requires an integrated mosquito management program employing multiple techniques.

Regardless of the control techniques used, be they genetic or traditional insecticide applications, Faraji and Unlu argue that community outreach and engagement are an essential part of any control program. The public cannot simply be a passive participant in mosquito control.