Mosquitoes

Biology:

Mosquitoes are found all over the world. The species occurring in our latitudes have a size of approx. 5 to 10 mm with an inconspicuous brownish-grey coloration. The larvae develop in water. For example, most mosquito species of the genus Aedes (with the exception of Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, which is a “container breeder” and lays its eggs in even the smallest pools of water) are flood mosquitoes. They lay their eggs on moist soil and are found in river floodplains. Culex pipiens, on the other hand, lays its eggs on water surfaces, such as open rain barrels, gutters, pools and puddles, where the mosquitoes breed. The females need blood meals to reproduce, which they obtain by biting humans and animals.

Damage:

Mosquitoes cause a very unpleasant itching sensation when they bite. Their flight with its very distinctive flying noises can also be very annoying. Dangerous diseases are transmitted by mosquito bites, especially in tropical countries.

However, various mosquito species originating from the tropics and subtropics have now managed to establish themselves in our country. These include, for example, the Asian tiger mosquito(Aedes albopictus), which originally comes from the subtropics and tropics of Asia. As a carrier of viruses such as the Zika virus, the Chikungunya virus and the Dengue virus, it can also be dangerous for the diseases caused by these pathogens in humans. The Asian tiger mosquito has managed to spread northwards via southern Europe and become native to our colder latitudes. This was possible because mosquitoes that live in cold or dry areas are able to develop so-called diapause eggs. Diapause eggs can survive months of drought and cold and only re-enter the development cycle as soon as the environmental factors around them improve and they come into contact with water. This enables the Asian tiger mosquito to overwinter in our country.

Tip:

Avoiding open water points (e.g. open rain barrels), which serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, can reduce the infestation under certain circumstances. Biological control of the larvae with bacterial-based preparations (Bti) is now widely and successfully used and can also be used in allotment gardens. Special skin protection products (repellents) should be applied during the main mosquito activity periods (evening hours) to prevent bites.