City of Munich expands measures against aggressive tiger mosquito: "It's important that we have a look at it"
Created: 07/21/2022, 20:25
By: Nadja Pohr
Researchers have found that mosquitoes, such as the Asian tiger mosquito, are learning.
© James Gathany/CDC/dpa
The health department of the city of Munich has extended measures to detect and prevent the spread of the aggressive tiger mosquito in good time.
Traps were also set up.
Munich – The climate change in Germany not only causes extreme weather phenomena, but also favors the spread of many mosquitoes.
Bill Gates named the mosquito the "deadliest animal in the world".
A particularly dangerous species that is currently spreading in Bavaria is the Asian tiger mosquito.
It mainly transmits tropical diseases such as dengue, chikungunya or Zika fever, as the city of Munich informs.
Since 2015 specimens have been detected again and again.
According to the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL), the tiger mosquito has already adapted to the European climate situation.
In order to detect a possible spread of the aggressive mosquito species more quickly, the health protection department in the Munich Health Department (GSR) has developed a tiger mosquito monitoring system.
The city of Munich gives tips on combating the tiger mosquito
The aggressive tiger mosquito has already been discovered at twelve locations in Bavaria.
As the GSR Munich is now reporting on its social media channels, Twitter and Facebook, certain precautions have been taken in some city cemeteries and the first traps have been set up.
Among other things, the mosquitoes are attracted with various scents in order to make it clear whether a population is present.
Notices have now been put up that give instructions for grave owners in the affected cemeteries.
Of course, these can also be used in the home garden or on the balcony.
Among other things, it is requested to remove containers in which rainwater can collect, to store them upside down or to change the water at least once a week in case of permanent use.
Stale water in containers is the ideal breeding ground for the snappy animals.
Other measures in the cemeteries are:
Hang watering cans upside down on the hanging device
Conversion to closed holy water bowls
Filling up the flowerpot saucers with sand or gravel
Replace plastic permanent lights once a week and discard old ones
Thoroughly clean digging supplies on site with a sponge and water before taking them home to avoid carryover.
Freeze used sponges at -20 degrees for two weeks
Put cleaning and stale water on the grass and not down the gully to avoid spreading tiger mosquito eggs and larvae down the sewage system
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Munich wants to prevent further settlement of the tiger mosquito
"It is important that we simply have a look at whether the tiger mosquito settles here," explains Jens Gerhardt from the Munich Health Protection Department.
Unlike the native mosquito, the bites of the tiger mosquito are more intense.
In addition to the dangerous diseases that the tiger mosquito can transmit, the city of Munich also has a great interest in preventing the settlement.
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The eggs of the tiger mosquito are also much more stable and can survive temperatures down to -10 degrees.
Consequently, according to Gerhardt, it is important that the instructions for action in the cemeteries are observed.
Should settlement take place there, countermeasures such as the use of chemical agents can be employed.
With the GSR, however, the focus is currently on preventing the spread, as they announce on Twitter.
