The Asian tiger mosquitoes is implicated as a possible carrier for the Zika virus. | Photo: iStock

“The Asian tiger mosquito is the most common mosquito in Kentucky,” said Grayson Brown, PhD, entomologist with the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “We are seeing it earlier than normal this year. What’s different this year is this mosquito is implicated as a possible carrier for Zika. Kentuckians who are concerned about Zika should start taking precautions.”

The Asian tiger mosquito normally begins to appear in Central Kentucky in mid-June and populations begin to climb throughout the summer, peaking in late July and early August. The mosquitoes tend to arrive in Western Kentucky a little earlier and appear in Eastern Kentucky a little later than Central Kentucky. The mosquito is the primary carrier of canine heartworm.

“The Asian tiger mosquito is an opportunistic feeder and will feed on other things besides humans,” said Lee Townsend, PhD, UK extension entomologist. “It tends to bite humans around the ankles, an area that is often overlooked when applying repellents