Aedes atlanticus is a medium-sized mosquito with prominent white stripes on its abdomen. The females of this species are pestiferous, like their aptly named close cousin
Aedes tormentor. In addition to being a
vector of
yellow fever, the mosquito can carry the
Keystone virus, which is common in small animals in Florida, and may be common among humans with only minor symptoms, though only two cases have been verified, as of June 2018.
Aedes atlanticus mosquitoes are widespread and common in the southeast US, from
Texas and southern
Missouri all the way through
Maryland. Their reproductive cycle can carry some viruses
transstadially through the different stages of the insect's life: a female mosquito may lay eggs carrying the virus, which hatch into infected larvae, eventually maturing into adults that can infect mammals while injecting their
anti-coagulant saliva during a bite. ==References==