Summer 2022: is Germany threatened with a mosquito plague?

Created: 2022-06-07 21:57

By: Kai Hartwig

In the summer, the unpleasant buzzing of the mosquito returns.

In 2022 the animals will be very active again.

And could become a real plague.

Munich – When spring follows winter, temperatures generally rise.

With the warmer weather, some animals are also coming back, which tend to take it easy during the cold season.

This includes mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes are already very active - is Germany threatened with a plague in the summer of 2022?

Their typical buzzing has already brought so many people to sleep.

Anyone who hears this noise at night knows that there is a mosquito nearby and it's probably after my blood.

And often leaves uncomfortably itchy patches on the skin of those who have been bitten.

These days there are a lot of mosquitoes in Germany - and they are obviously very active.

Doreen Werner from the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg stated that wood and meadow mosquitoes in particular are currently hunting for blood.

These mosquito species are among those that develop with only one generation per year.

Mosquitoes are currently very active again in Germany.

(Iconic image) © Patrick Pleul/dpa

More aggressive mosquitoes on the way - summer temperatures helped the insect population

The wood and meadow mosquitoes are somewhat larger and in some cases more aggressive in their behavior than house mosquitoes.

In 2022, they will be building their first population two weeks earlier than usual.

The summer temperatures of the past few weeks have favored the increase in the number of house mosquitoes.

Due to the current weather, the process from the female mosquito laying eggs to the hatching of the offspring currently takes just one week.

"The season is only just getting started," said expert Werner.

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So is there a mosquito plague in Germany in the summer of 2022?

"I can't look into the crystal ball," said Werner.

Due to the fact that the development of the mosquito population depends heavily on the weather and temperatures, it is difficult to make a forecast.

Especially over a longer period of time.

"Mosquitoes like it moist and warm, and when one of those components breaks down, it makes it harder for the mosquitoes to breed," the biologist said.

On the other hand, it is impossible for insects to find suitable breeding grounds when it is dry.

In this case, mosquitoes cannot lay their eggs.

"Then they fly around pregnant for weeks." (kh)