During last week’s Friday news roundup, I called the Aedes Aegypti the “hot new mosquito in Las Vegas” — and was only partially joking 🦟 The aggressive species is exploding in population, especially in the Northwest Valley. Should we be concerned?
🤔 Where Does the Aedes Aegypti Live?
It’s believed the Aedes Aegypti originated in Africa and spread to the Americas, Europe, and other continents while on board trade ships between the late 18th century and mid-20th century. Their local presence has grown from just six Las Vegas Valley zip codes to 43 since 2017.
😦 Are They Dangerous?
The Aedes Aegypti is also known as the Yellow Fever Mosquito. In addition to its namesake disease, the species is capable of spreading dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. However, it doesn’t usually carry the potentially deadly West Nile Virus, which was recently detected in the Las Vegas Valley. Only one Aedes Aegypti mosquito ever tested positive for West Nile in Southern Nevada, and that was back in 2017.
😜 The Ladies Run the Show
Females are larger than the males and are the ones that bite humans for blood (to help their eggs develop). The fellas prefer to feast on fruit. Both have a distinctive white stripe that you’ll never notice because … hey, they’re mosquitoes.
