Travellers need to be aware that Aedes mosquitoes implicated in dengue breed well in urban habitats. Significantly, they are daytime feeders (most malaria-carrying Anopheles spp mosquitoes bite between dusk and dawn). Aedes albopictus is also noted for biting aggressively, living up to its common name of Asian tiger mosquito. It has also adapted to biting indoors, when previously it was considered only to feed outdoors.16,22,23

Aedes albopictus occurs in the tropics, especially Asia, but has less presence in the Americas. It can also live in temperate areas and its ability to withstand colder temperatures than Aedes aegypti, means it can be active into December in southern France.14,18,24

Outside western Europe, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is the main vector for dengue. They feed a number of times a day biting several different people, being most active early in the morning and before sunset.16

Its main distribution is tropical and sub-tropical but there are established populations in Madeira and around the Black Sea. As it does not tolerate cold temperatures it is not expected to become established further north in Europe.14,24