Mosquitoes
Asian tiger mosquito: how to recognise it, and is it in the UK?
You recognise a tiger mosquito by its black and white colouring: a small black mosquito with a single white stripe down the middle of its back and black and white banded legs. It is smaller than a common house mosquito and bites mainly during the day (source: UKHSA). It is not established in the UK; if you think you have seen one here, report it to UKHSA.
In this article
How do you recognise a tiger mosquito?
You recognise a tiger mosquito by several features together: it is small, clearly black and white, has one white stripe down the middle of its back and black and white bands on its legs (source: UKHSA). There is no brown, red or yellow on it. A tiger mosquito bites mainly during the day, often around the ankles and legs.
What is the difference between a tiger mosquito and a common mosquito?
The tiger mosquito is black and white, smaller and bites during the day; the common house mosquito in the UK is brown and bites mainly at dusk and at night (sources: UKHSA, RIVM).
| Feature | Asian tiger mosquito | Common house mosquito |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | black with white, no brown, red or yellow | light to mid brown |
| Back | one white stripe down the middle | no white stripe |
| Legs | banded black and white | not banded black and white |
| Size | small | a little larger |
| When it bites | mainly during the day | mainly at dusk and at night, with a whine |
| Where it lays eggs | small containers of water, such as saucers, watering cans and old tyres | standing water, such as water butts, gutters and saucers |
Is a big striped mosquito a tiger mosquito?
A big striped mosquito is almost never a tiger mosquito: the tiger mosquito is actually small. A large mosquito with stripes or long legs is very probably another species; the UK has a number of native mosquitoes, and some of them have pale bands too. Check all the features above before you report one.
Is the tiger mosquito in the UK?
The tiger mosquito is not established in the UK. UKHSA monitors for invasive mosquitoes at ports, airports and motorway service areas, because the tiger mosquito can arrive as a stowaway with goods and vehicles; eggs and larvae have been found at a small number of sites in southern England, but it has not settled here (source: UKHSA). It is established in large parts of southern Europe, including holiday regions in France, Spain and Italy (source: ECDC).
What should you do if you see a tiger mosquito?
Report it, preferably with the mosquito itself or a photo. In the UK you report a suspected tiger mosquito to UKHSA through its Mosquito Recording Scheme.
- Catch or swat the mosquito and keep it, for example in a small pot, so the white stripe on its back stays visible.
- Take a few photos against a plain background, such as a wall or a sheet of paper.
- Report it to the UKHSA Mosquito Recording Scheme, with where and when you found it. Experts look at the photo or the mosquito and tell you whether it is a tiger mosquito.
Is the tiger mosquito dangerous?
It can transmit diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika (source: UKHSA), but in the UK the risk is very low because the mosquito is not established here. Reporting matters all the same: a find can then be dealt with before the mosquito settles. The risk is higher on holiday in regions where the tiger mosquito is established; NaTHNaC, the UK's travel health service, gives advice per destination.
What should you do after a tiger mosquito bite?
After a tiger mosquito bite you do the same as after any mosquito bite: usually the symptoms clear up on their own. Wash the area and hold something cold against it, such as a cloth soaked in cold water or an ice pack in a towel (source: NHS). See a GP if the bite does not get better, or if you feel unwell after a bite, especially after a trip abroad (NHS). More about itching and bumps in mosquito bites: why they itch and what helps.
How do you stop tiger mosquitoes breeding around your home?
You stop tiger mosquitoes breeding around your home by not leaving small containers of water standing around, because that is where the female lays her eggs (sources: UKHSA, RIVM). The same steps help against common mosquitoes too:
- Tidy away or turn over buckets, watering cans, flower pots, saucers, wheelbarrows, toys and tarpaulins that collect water.
- Make sure gutters, including those on a shed, drain properly.
- Cover water butts with a lid or fine mesh.
- Scrub the inside of containers that have held water, so any eggs are removed.
- Check your garden for standing water once a week.
Read more in our guide how to avoid mosquito bites. Protect your skin as you would against other mosquitoes, with clothing and a mosquito repellent spray for your skin, as the label says.
Authorisation number of our mosquito spray in the UK: UK-2020-1247. Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.
Sources: UKHSA (invasive mosquito surveillance, Mosquito Recording Scheme); ECDC (distribution of the tiger mosquito in Europe); NaTHNaC (travel health); NHS (insect bites and stings); RIVM (mosquitoes).
