Background
Also known as forest day mosquito, the Asia tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is a kind of mosquito species, which has led to various detrimental effects on human beings, particularly in the United States of America, since its introduction in 1985. The mosquito is considered a bothersome pest in human communities, as it associates closely with human beings. Its physical characteristics are white and black striped body and legs, with relatively a small body (a quarter-inch long) compared with other mosquito species. This mosquito species is native to the tropical areas of Asia, particularly in the southeastern parts.
According to Toliver (2003), the mosquitoes in their natural niche the food chains were naturally controlled, which in turn held their population growth in control, as opposed to their new environment where there are no predators, leading to uncontrolled population growth. Secondly, this massive population has led to limitations in terms of habitats (limited shelter). This is opposed to their natural environment whereby population growth is controlled. Thirdly the new environment specifically in the USA varies to freezing winter in the north which poses a danger to the survival of the species, as opposed to their natural tropical and subtropical niche.
However, the species has significantly invaded several countries worldwide, a couple of decades ago. Its invasion has been through human activities such as international travels and transportation of goods. According to Hilton (2000), the Asian tiger mosquito was among the two invasive insects recently introduced in the USA, mainly through commercial shipments. The mosquito was first found in Houston, Texas in the USA in 1985, and was thought to have entered the region through cargos of imported used tires.
Since then the mosquito had significantly spread to various parts of the country, and by the year 1992, the species had invaded as far as Minnesota and Delaware in the north. The 1999 national survey on the spread of the invasive species indicated that the insect had established itself in more than 25 states in the country (Moore, 1999, 224). The Global Invasive Species Database ranked the Asian tiger mosquito among the top 100 worst invasive species in the world (Global Invasive Species Database, n.d).
The new American niche for the mosquito species has allowed the species to be a problem in the environment due to the following reasons. First is the overgrowth in population as there are no predators to control their population growth. Secondly is the increased competition for food and habitats as a consequential result of overpopulation. Thirdly the excessive cool climate especially during winters has led to the mosquitoes seeking refuge in human habitats, hence becoming a menace in the transmission of diseases.
Problems
The species is considered to have an alarming potential since it out-competes and eradicates other native mosquito species inbreeding, and can breed in very small puddles of stagnant water (Blatchford, 2007). Particularly in the USA, the Asian tiger mosquito population has grown tremendously, out-competing other breeds of mosquitoes such as the cortex, which are not as harmful as the Asian tigers regarding human health. The species has also out-competed the other breeds dwelling in the vicinity of human beings, to solely command the new habitats (Lounibos, 2007).
The Asian tiger mosquito is associated with spreading the Dengue virus which leads to Dengue hemorrhagic fever as well as dengue shock syndrome, through its bites on human beings (Gleeson, McBride & Norton, 1999). Laboratory studies have also shown that the mosquito is a vector of the eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE). The economic productivity of individuals affected by such illnesses is usually slowed. The economic effect comes through reduced economic production and government as well as individual expenditures on illnesses of a country, due to illnesses associated with the pest.
During the Chikungunya epidemic of 2005/2006 in La Reunion, a French island, the mosquito species was responsible for the transmission of a virus that claimed the lives of 248, infecting more than 266,000 people by September 2006 (ProMED-mail, 2006). The table below shows the economic impacts of the chikungunya epidemic from 2005 to 2007, in France.
Control Mechanisms
In the USA, several mechanisms and projects have been initiated to control the spread of mosquito species in the country. The first mechanism is getting rid of mosquito breeding sites. The department of public health of the USA outlined the following steps in implementing the mechanism. These were the removal of old containers from yards, which are likely to accumulate water, emptying pools weekly, keeping roof gutters clean from falling leaves, reporting discarded containers to local health officials and neighbors working together to eliminate breeding sites in their vicinity (Howard, 2007). The project was started in Illinois, recording high chances of success in the state.
The second mechanism was to reduce the risk of mosquito bites through the following steps. Using mosquito nets in sleeping rooms, avoiding spending a lot of time outdoors especially between dusk and dawn, and if necessary to use mosquito anti-repellant. This mechanism has kicked off countrywide, but results are yet to be quantified (Howard, 2007).
The third mechanism is the mosquito suppression project by the Center for Vector Biology in conjunction with the USDA fly and mosquito research unit. The process will involve sensitizing community involvement through education and mosquito surveillance, to systematically destroy all the development stages of the pest. The implementation of the project is yet to kick start (Rutgers Project to Suppress the Asian tiger mosquito, 2007).
Summary and Conclusion
The first control mechanism of the Asian tiger mosquitoes is deemed to bring forth benefits since not many inputs are needed. The costs involved will be quite minimal. The destruction of their breeding sites will mean that the mosquito population will reduce significantly.
The second mechanism is deemed to be the most effective mechanism, as its implementation will be at the individual level and inside households. The costs will be extremely low, with the benefits likely to be high. However, the mechanism alone might fail to control the pests effectively since the population might escalate. It’s more of protection than controlling the pests.
The third mechanism seems to be the best to undertake. Though the costs are estimated to be quite high, the benefits of the project are extremely high. The surveillance and destruction of the development stages of the pest will be the best in terms of destroying their new niche completely.
The future of the Asian tiger mosquito in the USA, and in other parts of the world where it has invaded, seems to be extinction, since many control projects are showing signs of success, particularly in the USA. What needs to be done is unity between the project driver and the society, to avert the socio-economic threat and damage presented by the pest to humans.
Works Cited
Blatchford, J. “Tiger Mosquito: an invasive mosquito species with frightening potential.” 2007. Web.
Gleeson, F; McBride, J; Norton, R. “Culture-amplified detection of dengue virus from Serum in an outbreak of dengue fever.” Journal of Medical Virology. 57(2): 1999 212-215.
Howard, S. “Prevention and control: Asian tiger mosquito”. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 14(1): 2007 83-94.
Lounibos, L. P. “Competitive displacement and reduction.”AMCA Bulletin 23: 2007. 276-282.
Moore, G. “Aedes albopictus in the United States: Current status and prospects for Further spread.” Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 15(2): 1999. 221-227.
ProMED-mail. “Chikungunya – Indian Ocean update.” 2006. Web.
Rutgers Project to Suppress the Asian tiger mosquito Nationwide. 2007. Web.
The Global Invasive Species Database, n.d. Web.