Officials with the city of La Verne are warning residents that the Asian tiger mosquito has been found in the area.
“This aggressive day-biting mosquito is not native to California and has not been seen in the San Gabriel Valley since 2001 when they were accidentally imported in shipments of Dracaena ‘Lucky Bamboo’ plants,” city officials said.
On July 18, officials with the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District sprayed more than 70 properties in and around known problem sites, mostly around the city of El Monte, according to that agency.
But the city remains vigilant for the mosquito that is known to have caused outbreaks of dengue virus in Florida, Hawaii, and Texas, city officials said.
“If this mosquito becomes permanently established in California, residents will have to live with an even greater risk of mosquito-transmitted disease,” officials said.
The insect is very small but can be identified by the black and white bands on its thorax, abdomen, and legs. City officials said they are aggressive biters and are active during the day and night.
This mosquito is a ‘container breeder’ and prefers to lay its eggs onto the inside of water-filled containers or on stems of aquatic plants. When flooded, the eggs hatch and larvae emerge, maturing to biting adults in 7-12 days, officials said.
Anyone who believes they may have encountered the Tiger Mosquito may call vector control at (626) 814-9466 or visit its website.
