Exotic Asian tiger mosquito found in Queensland can bite a dozen times in one minute
An exotic breed of mosquito called the Asian tiger mosquito, or Aedes albopictus, has been identified in north Queensland in Australia on Aug. 12. The insect was shown to have the ability to bite dozens of times in just one minute. The said mosquito was reportedly caught in a routine monitoring trap at Cairns Port. It is believed to have been brought in by an international vessel.
ABC News reports that Dr. Roscoe Taylor from Queensland Health’s Tropical Public Health Service said that an adult female mosquito was found beside a berth for international vessels in Cairns on Aug. 12.
The Asian tiger mosquito is an aggressive feeder and can reportedly breed in vegetation outside of homes. The insect has not yet settled on the mainland, but there have been populations identified in the Torres Strait Islands over the last 10 years, according to a report from The Guardian. It poses a threat by its ability to spread deadly diseases, like the Ross River virus, chikungunya virus, yellow fever and dengue.
Nigel Beebe, a mosquito researcher, said that the insect was attempting to dominate the world.
“ We don’t want that thing here, we are trying very hard to keep it out. Modelling has suggested it will go as far as Melbourne and Adelaide. We call it the barbecue buster and people will really dislike it because it will hammer them,” Beebe said in the same The Guardian report.
Authorities immediately responded by killing other adult Asian tiger mosquitoes spotted at Cairns port. More mosquito traps were also set up and monitored on a daily basis to ensure that the insects do not transfer to other locations.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Agriculture assured that residual insecticide and fogging are effective treatments to prevent and destroy potential breeding and resting locations. She added that after exercising control measures, there have been no further sightings of the deadly mosquito.
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