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The Tiger and Yellow Fever Mosquito visually look very similar.

Recognizing the difference is important for tracking and controlling the spread of Yellow Fever, Dengue fever and other diseases. Especially important, now that the range of the two have overlapped in the United States.

I have some questions about the commonalities of these mosquitoes.


Evolutionarily, How can the similarities be explained?

Why do they both have the black body with white stripes?

What is the best way to tell them apart?


A. aegypti, the Yellow Fever Mosquito

aegypti, the Yellow Fever Mosquito

A. albopictus, the Tiger Mosquito albopictus, the Tiger Mosquito

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    $\begingroup$ Assuming that Aedes is monophyletic, the similarities between them can be explained simply by the fact that they share a very recent common ancestor and are therefore very closely related! $\endgroup$ Dec 13, 2013 at 14:42

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For the best way to tell them apart, see this guide: http://www.cdc.gov/dengue/resources/30Jan2012/comparisondenguevectors.pdf

Specifically, it seems that the silver pattern on the torso is different (lyre-shaped for Yellow Fever Mosquito, more linear for Asian Tiger Mosquito). Location is probably also an important determinant.

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