Aedes aegypti

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.