Asian Tiger mosquitoes arrive in N.J.
Sunday, June 23, 2013 Last updated: Sunday June 23, 2013, 10:13 AM
BY JIM NORMAN
STAFF WRITER
The Record
The dire warnings of swarms of cicadas are beginning to fade from memory, and most people in North Jersey are starting to get over what might be called insect fatigue.
But just when you thought it was safe to attend your next summer barbecue, know this: There is a new scourge in town. It’s the Asian tiger mosquito, an elegant little bug that looks like it’s dressed for an evening out, but will eat you alive, figuratively speaking, even at midday.
Before this new gang showed up, New Jerseyans had learned to live with, if not exactly love, several species of drably-clad plain brown mosquitoes that had collectively earned the title of New Jersey State Bird in late-night talk-show monologues.
Those other mosquitoes, like the ubiquitous Vexan mosquito, were predictable. They came out at dusk, sucked your blood for a while, made it impossible to get to sleep with their infernal whine, and sometimes gave you a fleeting moment of intense, murderous pleasure when you squished one in mid-bite — and then generally left you alone until the next evening.
The Asian tiger mosquito, named for its distinctive black-and-white striped legs and body markings, has no compunction about attacking when you least expect it, zooming in for a meal as you get into the car for your morning commute, for example.
These guys sound like clones of Mayor Aronsohn, Deputy Mayor Pucciarelli, and Councildingbat Hauck. They attack undeserving people at all times of the day and night and they suck the blood out of Ridgewood residents.