| Aedes geniculatus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Culicidae |
| Genus: | Aedes |
| Subgenus: | Dahliana |
| Species: | A. geniculatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Aedes geniculatus (Olivier, 1791) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Aedes geniculatus, also known as the tree hole mosquito, [1] is closely related to the better known Asian tiger mosquito and is native to Europe and North Africa. [2]
After the Zika epidemic in 2016, it was mistakenly reported to Public Health England by members of the public, who were monitoring the spread of Zika-carrying mosquitoes in southern England following media reports of the spread of the Asian tiger mosquito. [3] [4]
Although it has not been observed in the wild as a disease vector, in laboratory tests, the tree hole mosquito can transmit yellow fever and chikungunya and so may be able to spread the Zika virus. [5]