Aedes aegypti – The dengue mosquito

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the mosquito of the species Aedes aegypti, also popularly called dengue mosquito, is responsible for the transmission of various diseases to man, such as yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and zika. Given the immense amount of problems caused, this mosquito becomes a serious problem for the population, and campaigns to combat it are common.

Main features of Aedes aegypti

O Aedes aegypti it's a mosquito from Africa, more precisely than Egypt (hence the choice of the specific epithet "aegypti”). Currently found in all Brazilian states and the Federal District, this vector of various diseases was introduced in the Americas during the first European colonizations.

O THE. aegypti it has daytime habits and is well adapted to the urban environment. As the high temperature and humidity favor its development, proliferation is large in our country, especially in summer, when rainfall and temperatures increase.

Its most striking feature is its black coloring with white stripes and spots all over the body. The color pattern gives a certain camouflage to the mosquito, which normally makes its flights in places with low light and close to the ground. In urban environments, it is common to find the

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THE. aegypti in dark corners inside houses, such as under beds and under sinks.

the females of the Aedes aegypti they lay their eggs in environments outside of the water, but close to it. Therefore, if there is a container accumulating water, the mosquito will place its eggs on the wall of these containers. When the liquid reaches these eggs, hatching will occur and the development of the Aedes. The mosquito, under favorable environmental conditions, takes an average of ten days to reach the adult stage after the egg hatches.

the sting of Aedes aegypti

the female of the Aedes aegypti it is the only one capable of biting the human being. During the reproductive cycle, the female needs blood for the development of her eggs, and that's when she transmits diseases. It is noteworthy, however, that the female also feeds on sugary substances, such as nectar, which is the only food consumed by males.

Combat to Aedes aegypti

As the mosquito needs water for its development, it is essential to eliminate any stagnant water reservoir that can serve as a breeding ground for the mosquito. This measure is essential for dengue cases, for example, to decrease in our country.

In addition to the destruction of breeding sites, other measures can and should be taken in the fight against Aedes aegypti, as is the case of chemical (insecticides) and biological (species that kill or hinder the development of the Aedes). In this last mode of control, the recent use of a lineage of modified male mosquitoes, which are released into nature to reproduce and transmit a deadly gene that prevents the individual from reaching adulthood.

Curiosity:Did you know that the Aedes aegypti mosquito has already been eradicated from our country? In the early 20th century, yellow fever rates were alarming, which led to an intense eradication campaign. The fight paid off and, in 1955, the last mosquito outbreak was destroyed in our country. In 1958, we got the eradication certificate. Unfortunately, some countries on the continent were unable to put an end to the mosquito, which resulted in its reintroduction.


By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos

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