(CNN) As if life wasn't already challenging enough for residents in low-income urban neighborhoods, new research suggests such communities are more at risk from particularly harmful, aggressive mosquitoes.

Not only are there more mosquitos in such areas, but they may also be larger-bodied and more efficient at transmitting diseases, according to a study published by the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

Scientists at the Cary Institute have been researching how environmental and social conditions affected mosquito numbers as part of a study on the ecosystem of Baltimore.

Disease ecologist Shannon LaDeau led the study investigating how socioeconomics influences mosquito-born disease risk.

The team focused on tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus), as they dominate urban areas and are an "aggressive day-biter that targets people and can transmit an array of viruses."

"Invasive species like the tiger mosquito increasingly thrive in temperate urban areas, living among us and fundamentally altering the risk of local disease emergence," senior study author and Cary Institute disease ecologist Shannon LaDeau says.

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