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O Aedes aegypti it is the mosquito responsible for Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya and is very similar to the mosquito, however it has some characteristics that help to be differentiated from other mosquitoes. In addition to its white and black stripes, the mosquito has some habits that help identify it.
The dengue mosquito, besides being silent:
- It usually stings during the day, especially in the early hours of the morning or late afternoon;
- It stings, mainly, in the legs, ankles or feet and its sting usually does not hurt or itch;
- It has low flight, with a maximum of 1 meter of distance from the ground.
In addition, the Aedes aegypti it is more common in the summer, being recommended to use repellents, to use insecticide in the house or to put mosquito nets on the doors and windows. A natural way to keep mosquitoes away is to light citronella candles indoors.
The mosquito that transmits Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya is also the main responsible for the transmission of yellow fever, so it is important to fight it, avoiding the accumulation of standing water in containers such as glasses, tires, bottle caps or plant pots . Learn more about dengue transmission.
Photos of the dengue mosquito
Mosquito characteristics Aedes aegypti
The mosquito has the following characteristics:
- Size: between 0.5 and 1 cm
- Color: has black color and white streaks on the legs, head and body;
- Wings: it has 2 pairs of translucent wings;
- Legs: has 3 pairs of legs.
This mosquito does not like heat and, therefore, in the hottest times of the day, it is hidden in the shade or indoors. Although it usually bites during the day, this mosquito can also bite during the night.
Life cycleAedes aegypti
O Aedes aegypti it takes an average of 3-10 days to develop and lives approximately 1 month. The female mosquito can produce 3,000 eggs in her medical reproductive cycle. The life cycle of the Aedes aegyptistarts in still water where it passes from egg to larva and then pupa. Then it turns into a mosquito and becomes terrestrial, ready to reproduce. The main characteristics of each phase are:
- Egg: It can remain up to 8 inactive months glued above the water line, even in a dry and cold place, until it finds the ideal conditions to transform into larvae, which are heat and still water;
- Larva: Lives in water, feeds on protozoa, bacteria and fungi present in water and in just 5 days it becomes pupa;
- Pupa: Lives in the water where it continues to develop, and becomes an adult mosquito in 2-3 days;
- Adult mosquito: it is ready to fly and reproduce, but for that it needs to feed on human or animal blood, when the transmission of diseases occurs.
Find out more details of each phase of the Aedes aegypti.
Aedes Aegypti larvae and pupae
How to fight the Aedes aegypti
To combat the dengue mosquito it is important to avoid the existence of places or objects, such as lids, tires, vases or bottles, that can accumulate standing water, facilitating the development of the mosquito. So it is advised:
- Keep the water box closed with the lid;
- Clean the gutters, removing leaves, branches and other objects that may prevent the passage of water;
- Do not allow rain water to accumulate on the slab;
- Wash tanks used to store water with a brush and soap on a weekly basis;
- Keep the vats and barrels of water well covered;
- Fill the bowls with sand;
- Wash the pots with aquatic plants once a week, using a brush and soap;
- Keep empty bottles upside down;
- Deliver the old tires to the urban cleaning service or store them without water and sheltered from the rain;
- Put the garbage in closed bags and close the trash can.
Another way to prevent the development of the dengue mosquito is to put a natural larvicide in all plant dishes, mixing 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds in 250 ml of water and adding to the plant dish, repeating this procedure every week. Check out these and other tips by watching the following video:
Anvisa has already approved the use of a biological larvicide, called Biovech, which is capable of killing dengue lavas and mosquitoes in just 24 hours, without leaving toxic residues that can harm the environment and that is why it is safe for man, animals and plants.
Here's how to avoid getting bitten by Aedes aegypti on video: