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Characteristics:
Mosquitoes are insects present the world over, in around 3,500 species. They belong to the family of the Culicidae, order of the Diptera. In Italy, there are currently an estimated 60 species, of which the most irritating are: the town-dwelling Culex pipiens, the swamp species such as Aedes rusticus and Aedes ca spius, who do not shy away from town centres either, and the Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito. The tiger mosquito, who owes its name to its stripy appearance, is a common insect found throughout south-east Asia, and which has an extraordinary capacity to adapt to change and environments that are entirely different from its origins. Its appearance outside its place of origin first took place in the United States of America, in Mexico and Brazil, before spreading to Europe (Albania and Italy). The first reports of its presence in Italy date back to 1990 in Genoa: the first colonies formed through the importation of used tyres within which eggs had been laid. The tiger mosquito is vital, with variations due to the climate, between May and October. At the start of the autumn, the female lays her ‘resistant' eggs, which are also able to hibernate, thereby surviving winters with temperatures below -5°C. Only eggs survive the winter to then open the next spring as soon as conditions improve: plentiful rain, minimum temperatures no lower than +10°C and approximately 13 hours of photoperiod.

In the warm season, the females lay their eggs on the vertical walls of small water containers, and they hatch as soon as they are submerged by the water. Larvae come out from the eggs: at average temperatures of 25°C in stagnant water, just a few centimetres deep. Larvae complete their development giving rise to pupae, from which, after a total period of around three weeks, develop into adult examples. The first three phases of the life of the mosquito (egg, larva and pupa), take place in an aquatic environment. The fourth phase, that of sexual maturity, takes place in the air. Conditions of warm humidity, typical of our zones, make proliferation far more intense: the whole life cycle, on average, takes place over 2-3 weeks, but in the hottest period, 10 days can suffice. After the water appears, the adult insect is already ready to bite, and mates within 48-72 horus. Once re production has been completed, the male only survives for a few days. A mosquito lives for an average of around 3-4 weeks, and takes place within a radius of just a few hundred metres from its birthplace. The adult flies slowly, almost never exceeding a metre height above the ground, and only rarely manages to reach the higher floors of buildings. Its flying style, which is slow and imprecise, does not guarantee a great capacity to move. Only with favourable wind and by making best use of transport means, can it cover great distances. Only the female mosquito bites. To mature the eggs contained in her abdomen, she needs the proteins present in human blood and that of certain animals. The mosquito recognises her prey from the odour of certain substances emitted by their bodies, such as carbon dioxide, lactic acid and sweat. It is also particularly attracted by dark coloured clothing. What should you do after having been bitten? Wash and disinfect the bitten zone, use ice packs or apply an anti-histamine or cortisone cream. The tiger mosquito does not transmit disease. We should remember that in Italy, a bite by this mosquito is not currently any cause of transmission of infection. In south-east Asia, the tiger mosquito is a carrier of Arbovirus, which gives rise to slight flu-like symptoms in the form of encephalitis and haemorrhagic fevers (Dengue). The clearest difference between the common mosquito (Culex pipiens) and the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is their body colours. The first is hazelnut colour, whilst the second is black, with white stripes on the abdomen and legs, and a white line on the front part. The common mosquito is slightly larger than the tiger mosquito. The two species behave very differently in terms of choosing a habitat. The common mosquito lays eggs in bunches in pools of water of a certain extension (such as ditches, lakes, lagoons, etc.), whilst the tiger mosquito chooses small pools of water (drain covers and stagnant water). Differently to the common mosquito, the tigers prefer to live in open spaces, even if they do not shy away from entering our homes. The common mosquito Culex mainly bites at night, whilst the Aedes, on the other hand, bites during the daytime, generally late morning and outside. The biting apparatus of the tiger mosquitoes, which is more robust than that of the common mosquito, allows it to bite even through cloche. … one of the most significant differences between the two species concerns the sound emitted when flying: that of the common mosquito is easily heard, whilst the tiger mosquito is almost silent. Female tiger mosquitoes have no defence against the cold, and as winter arrives they disappear, but not before having laid their ‘resistance eggs', which will hatch the next spring, giving rise to new generations of mosquitoes. On the contrary, the common mosquito manages to survive the ice, remaining the whole winter in sheltered places like cellars and lofts. The tiger mosquito lays its eggs anywhere it finds stagnant water: ornamental plant pots, containers of all shapes and sizes, like bins, tanks, tyres stored outside and any other recipient containing stagnant water. It prefers cool, dark places, particularly at ease in condominium and road drain covers. Adults spend much of their day hidden amidst vegetation, where humidity levels are higher, ready to spring into action as a warm-blooded animal passes by.


Defence:
The most efficient way to limit development and proliferation of mosquitoes is prevention, which must be implemented first and foremost by private citizens, as well as by local administrations for public areas.

The fundamental rule is to prevent the mosquitoes from laying their eggs. To do this, maximum attention must be paid to eliminating even minimal collections of stagnant water.

The most important advice is: empty vase trays every day, along with watering cans and buckets, drinking troughs for birds and pets; carefully cover rainwater containers used in the vegetable garden with mosquito nets or cloths; put fish into tanks or fountains, who can feed on mosquito larvae (goldfish or mosquitofish); do not store tyres outdoors. Another efficient remedy is to cover drain covers with a mosquito net from April to October. By doing so, we physically prevent the mosquitoes from reaching the water necessary to their reproductive cycle. If eggs have already been laid on the drain cover, the mosquito net will prevent the adults born from leaving it.


Do you want to try a form of 'prevention' without using any type of insecticide?
Here is some useful advice…

- In VEGETABLE PLOTS AND GARDENS cover the recipients used to collect water for irrigation (buckets, watering cans, tanks and basins) with plastic cloths.
- VASES AND TRAYS: empty them (not into drain covers) at least once a week.
- ORNAMENTAL FOUNTAINS AND TANKS: introduce goldfish or mosquitofish, which are voracious predators of mosquito larvae.
- ANIMAL DRINKING TROUGHS AND BOWLS: change the water every day and wash carefully.
- DRAIN COVERS AND WELLS: clean a couple of times a year, treating weekly with anti-larvae products. Position a fine mesh mosquito net over the drain cover to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs. Every year, free from leaves or other materials that could block the flow of water.
- TYRES: do not store tyres outside. If this is not possible, cover them with cloths.


W A R N I N G !
Local regulations set out fines for anyone not applying these prevention standards.