Home/Species/Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti

Yellow fever mosquito
Vector Risk: High
Genus: Aedes

Aedes aegypti is the most important arbovirus vector in the world, responsible for the vast majority of dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and urban yellow fever transmission to humans. It is a small, dark mosquito with distinctive white markings — once seen, easily recognised.

Unlike most mosquitoes, Ae. aegypti has adapted almost entirely to human environments. It breeds in the small artificial water containers that accumulate around homes, resorts, and cities: flower pots, discarded tyres, water-storage jars, gutters, bottle caps. It feeds almost exclusively on humans, often biting multiple people in a single feeding session.

Activity peaks during daylight hours, particularly early morning (dawn to about two hours after) and late afternoon (about two hours before dusk). This daytime biting pattern is what makes dengue and Zika protection so different from malaria protection — bed nets alone are insufficient.

Aedes aegypti — photograph
Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim · GFDL 1.2 · 2009 · via Wikimedia Commons

Biting behaviour

Day-biting with peaks in early morning and late afternoon. Feeds almost exclusively on humans. Often bites indoors; rests in dark, sheltered spots inside houses during the day.

Habitat

Urban and peri-urban environments closely tied to human habitation. Breeds in small artificial containers holding clean water — flower vases, discarded tyres, water-storage jars, gutters, rooftop catchments.

Diseases transmitted

Dengue feverZika virusChikungunyaYellow fever

How to identify

Small, dark body with silvery-white lyre-shaped markings on the thoraxBold white bands on all legsRests parallel to the surface (unlike Anopheles)Prefers human hosts — often bites multiple people in one sessionActive during daylight, peaks at dawn and late afternoonWeak flier, typically stays within 100–200 m of breeding site

Where found

Tropical and subtropical regions worldwide: Southeast Asia, Latin America, Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, Pacific Islands, southern United States, and increasingly into southern Europe.

Precautions

CDC recommends EPA-registered repellents during daylight hours
WHO emphasises removing standing water around accommodation — even bottle caps and plant saucers
CDC advises air-conditioned or screened accommodation during peak biting hours
WHO recommends long-sleeved light-coloured clothing during dawn and dusk
WHO recommends permethrin-treated clothing in settings with sustained exposure
CDC notes that standard bed nets alone are insufficient for daytime-biting Aedes vectors
WHO — Vector-borne diseasesCDC — Aedes aegypti & Aedes albopictus

Countries where Aedes aegypti is relevant

This species transmits diseases recorded in 114 countries in our database. Click any country for its full Mozzwise briefing.

AngolaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaAustraliaBahamasBangladeshBarbadosBelizeBeninBhutanBoliviaBrazilBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCape VerdeCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaColombiaComorosCosta RicaCubaDominicaDominican RepublicDR CongoEcuadorEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEthiopiaFijiFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaGabonGambiaGhanaGrenadaGuatemalaGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHondurasHong KongIndiaIndonesiaItalyIvory CoastJamaicaKenyaKiribatiLaosLiberiaMadagascarMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMarshall IslandsMauritaniaMauritiusMexicoMicronesiaMozambiqueMyanmarNepalNew CaledoniaNicaraguaNigerNigeriaOmanPakistanPalauPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPuerto RicoRepublic of CongoRwandaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint VincentSamoaSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTongaTrinidad and TobagoTuvaluUgandaUnited StatesUruguayVanuatuVenezuelaVietnamYemen

Vector information is sourced from WHO, CDC, and ECDC. Not medical advice. Personal decisions on repellents, vaccinations, or medication belong with a qualified travel health professional.