Aedes aegypti – also known as the yellow fever mosquito – originated in Africa, but today can be found in tropical and subtropical regions across the world. It may even be moving into the USA and Europe. It has adapted well to living in urban environments, exploiting bodies of stagnant water created by humans. It is responsible for spreading the Zika virus, and also transmits the viruses that cause yellow fever, chikungunya, dengue fever, West Nile fever and eastern equine encephalitis.
James Gathany, Sanofi Pasteur/Flickr
