Does Hawaii Have Mosquitoes?
Whether you are planning a trip to the islands or you are a resident, you may be wondering: does Hawaii have mosquitoes? Mosquitoes are known to carry diseases such as Dengue, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya and West Nile Virus. Some people have even gotten Zika, a disease that causes birth defects.
There are eight different species of mosquitoes in Hawaii. There are two species of mosquitoes that are responsible for carrying illnesses, and they are the Aedes aegypti and the Aedes albopictus.
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can carry diseases, including Dengue, encephalitis and Chikungunya. These mosquitoes can be found on all of the Hawaiian islands. However, they are most common on the windward islands, such as Kauai and Maui. They are active at sunset and around two hours before sunrise.
They live in standing water and lay their eggs on the surface. They are most prevalent in wet areas, such as beaches, pools, and parking lots. The biggest killers are malaria and dengue.
The ground in Hawaii is made of porous lava rock, which limits standing freshwater. The ocean brings salt to the surface and limits mosquito larvae. Aedes vexans, the most common mosquito in Oahu, sometimes bites humans.
The Asian Tiger mosquito, also known as the day-biting mosquito, is another type that can spread Dengue, Zika, and Yellow Fever. They have bright patterns. They can be found in the deep jungle on Maui. They are one of the most dangerous mosquitoes to humans, as they can cause fever and joint pain.