Asian tiger mosquito - Information
The Asian tiger mosquito (Latin: Aedes albopictus) is finding increasingly better living conditions in our latitudes due to warmer average temperatures. The insect can transmit diseases that previously played no role in our country. In order to give the tiger mosquito as little opportunity as possible to spread, it is important to know some information:
Why is the Asian tiger mosquito being controlled?
The Asian tiger mosquito can cause severe nuisance in uncontrolled areas and significantly reduce the quality of life. It can also transmit pathogens such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses. The risk in Germany is currently still low, but will continue to increase due to climate change.
How is the Asian tiger mosquito distributed in Germany, Europe and the world?
Germany: Baden-Württemberg was the first federal state in which the Asian tiger mosquito was detected: in 2007 at a highway service area near Weil am Rhein. In the meantime, tiger mosquitoes have also been identified in other federal states. Further spread is expected due to climate change and globalization.
Europe: The insect originally comes from Southeast Asia, but has spread worldwide in the last three decades and has also become native to Europe, so far mainly in the Mediterranean region. Possible factors influencing the spread of the Asian tiger mosquito include freight traffic, for example the trade in used tires or plants such as "lucky bamboo", as well as travel.
Information on the worldwide distribution is provided by the Baden-Württemberg State Health Office based in Stuttgart: Distribution of the tiger mosquito - Landesgesundheitsamt Stuttgart
In 2019, the National Expert Commission "Mosquitoes as vectors of pathogens" at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut examined the need for action and options and published: Need for action and options for dealing with the Asian tiger mosquito, as of 19.04.2016
What is the difference between the Asian tiger mosquito and the house mosquito?
Biting behavior: The Asian tiger mosquito can bite up to 54 times per hour in comparison, the house mosquito bites 2 times per hour.
Time of day: The Asian tiger mosquito is active during the day. The house mosquito is nocturnal.
Size: The Asian tiger mosquito is the size of the globe depicted on a 1-cent coin. The house mosquito is significantly larger.
Where does the Asian tiger mosquito breed?
The Asian tiger mosquito breeds in natural or artificial water accumulations with stagnant rainwater that do not dry out completely within five days, e.g. rain barrels, gullies, buckets, watering cans, flower pots, flower stands, water bowls, water-filled parasol stands, car tires, uncovered rain barrels, animal drinking troughs, etc. Whether in urban residential areas or in the countryside, on the balcony, in the garden, on the terrace or in allotment gardens or on campsites. There are many natural and artificial water containers available for laying eggs. The eggs stick to the containers and survive drought and sometimes cold winters. The larvae hatch from the end of March to October when the eggs are flooded.
Important: Lively garden ponds, lakes and watercourses are not breeding grounds.
What can you do?
Any accumulation of water, however small, is a potential breeding ground for the Asian tiger mosquito. Small containers, such as children's toys, in which water can collect should be stored upside down or under cover. No standing water should collect on plastic sheeting or tarpaulins. Empty containers after a maximum of five days and scrub them out. The eggs adhere very firmly. Rain barrels should be completely covered with a lid or a mosquito net. Store unused buckets, watering cans and saucers upside down so that rainwater cannot accumulate.