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The tiger mosquito makes a comeback in France

Find out how the tiger mosquito has become established in France. Despite its small size, the dangerous and invasive tiger mosquito could do serious harm this summer of 2021. Hot weather means the return of the tiger mosquito to France. This year, 63 departments are classified as red zones on the map drawn up by Vigilance-Moustique.

THE SPREAD OF THE TIGER MOSQUITO IN FRANCE

In 2020, the mosquito continues its meteoric rise in France, with 63 departments now under red alert. The invasion is impressive, with 6 new departments under red alert compared with 2020. In the end, the tiger mosquito has invaded 69 départements, or 67% of France. In the Grand Sud region, all the departments have been colonised by this pest! This mosquito does not travel more than 100 metres from its birthplace. However, it can be easily transported over long distances by car or train. This has enabled the tiger mosquito to reach Paris and the whole of the Ile-de-France region in 2019. In addition, global warming in recent years partly explains the rapid spread of the tiger mosquito across France.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE TIGER MOSQUITO

With its scientific name of Aedes albopictus, the tiger mosquito is a diurnal insect. It loves to bite during the day and mainly outdoors. Easily recognisable by its black and white stripes, it is adept at temporarily flooded environments and warm, humid areas. So it’s easy to find it in urban areas! Coming straight from Asia, the tiger mosquito can be found from March to the end of October. This highly aggressive mosquito is capable of biting the same person 4 or 5 times. They are particularly keen on the edges of flooded surfaces, which is a popular place for the female to lay her eggs. Although the female tiger mosquito only lives for a few weeks, her eggs can wait patiently for several months (an entire winter) for the right conditions to hatch!

A DANGEROUS SPECIES

This very dangerous species can potentially be a vector of pathologies such as Dengue, Chikungunya and the Zika virus. Tiger mosquito bites can cause serious symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and even meningitis… In 2020, Santé Publique France identified 13 indigenous cases of dengue fever in mainland France. These cases were identified in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region and in Occitanie. Learn more about the health risks associated with mosquitoes.

HOW TO LIMIT THE INVASION OF THE TIGER MOSQUITO?

As areas of stagnant water are conducive to the reproduction of the tiger mosquito, we invite each citizen to identify and eliminate all areas likely to produce mosquitoes in your outdoor space. We draw your attention to watering cans, flower pot saucers, ashtrays, children’s toys and other items that may contain water. Remember to turn them over and empty them to drain the water after each use and each rain. Also make sure that water does not stagnate below the floor covering of your terrace. This can encourage the proliferation of mosquitoes. In which case, simply place sand which will absorb the water. It is also necessary to check the drainage of the gutters. If you have a swimming pool, regular maintenance is essential. These tips only make it possible to limit the production of mosquitoes in a certain area. If you want to reduce tiger mosquito bites in your exterior, you can equip yourself with a Qista anti-mosquito trap (BAM). It will act as an anti-mosquito barrier by intercepting mosquitoes before they enter the area to be protected.