THE ESSENTIAL
- With the mild temperatures in certain regions, tiger mosquitoes are still active in the territory.
- This mosquito is dangerous because it can transmit several viruses to humans.
- To prevent its proliferation, all stagnant water must be removed.
In certain regions, the tiger mosquito is still rampant. With global warming, temperatures remain mild for longer, particularly in the south of France, which extends the period during which this pest can be active.
Tiger mosquitoes captured “until December in the Occitanie region” in 2023
“Last year, we captured the tiger mosquito until December in the Occitanie region.explains Frédéric Simard, research director at the Research Institute for Development in Montpellier, France Info. Mosquitoes are no longer confined to summer, because summer is extending, a consequence of climate change. The temperatures are still very mild, there has been abundant rainfall. Flooded cellars are, for example, excellent breeding grounds for the common mosquito, the culex.”
But it is not only in the warmest regions that the tiger mosquito still bites. It is still present in Ile-de-France, as indicated by Doctor Arezki Irzi, entomologist and parasitologist at the Avicenne hospital in Bobigny, in BFM Paris : “Mosquitoes, when it is cold, go into diapause, that is to say they hibernate, or even die in certain cases whether in the egg or adult state. So right now, it’s hot and humid so they’re taking advantage“.
Dengue, chikungunya, zika: a mosquito that transmits viruses to humans
Originally, the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus comes from the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. But, according to theNational Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Anses), over time, it has adapted to other environments and the urban environment. Thus, for several years, the presence of the tiger mosquito increases in France. This pest is worrying because it can, by biting humans, transmit numerous viruses. Among them, there is notably dengue, chikungunya and even zika.
We must therefore protect ourselves from bites! To do this, avoid going out at times when the tiger mosquito is most active (between 7 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.). You can also install mosquito nets on your windows, wear loose clothing and use repellent.
In terms of prevention, the best is to limit the proliferation of these mosquitoes as much as possible. To do this, in your home, you must remove all stagnant water, places where larvae develop. And the best time for this is winter! The eggs have not yet hatched and it is therefore at this time that the areas where they are must be treated.
