One Utah Deportation Everyone Can Agree On

Davis County's Newest Resident Needs a One-Way Ticket Out

For the first time in recent memory, there may be an immigration case that brings everyone together.

The subject? Aedes aegypti, also known as the yellow fever mosquito, recently detected in Davis County.

Yeah, sorry mosquito you need to go. You are not a harmless misguided wanderer who stumbled in on mistake. You are not native to Utah. In fact, you have had your chance to be neighborly, but you just keep on insisting on transmitting diseases such as dengue, Zika, yellow fever, and chikungunya in places where those viruses flourish.

In other words, we see your résumé, but we don't really like how it reads.

Origin

Scientists believe Aedes aegypti originated in Africa before spreading throughout tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Unlike many Utah mosquitoes, it prefers living near people. It breeds in small containers holding water and has the annoying habit of biting during the daytime.

It doesn't even have the courtesy to wait until dusk.

So, dear Aedes aegypti, while we're impressed by your ability to travel across continents, we respectfully decline your request for residency. The climate isn't right, we aren't interested, and your family reunion plans are canceled.

As You Go

As you do make your exit, feel free to take any cousins, siblings, and distant buzzing relatives with you.

Read More: Southern Utah’s Mosquito Hawks Don’t Hunt?

And if a few of Utah's homegrown Culex Tarsalis mosquitoes decide to tag along, that's fine too. We'll gladly look the other way. I know I know it seems hypocritical to allow them to leave without proper paperwork, but in this case, hospitality points one direction: the leaving one.