Baden-Württemberg facilitates the fight against Asian tiger mosquitoes!

Baden-Württemberg facilitates the fight against Asian tiger mosquitoes!

The Asian tiger mosquito is spreading more and more in Germany, and the mild weather is bringing these annoying insects into our gardens and living rooms. Baden-Württemberg is now campaigning for easier handling of Bti tablets in order to get rid of this annoying plague. This was decided unanimously at the recent meeting of health ministers in Weimar. However, the distribution of the tablets has so far only been reserved for knowledgeable people, which makes things complicated. However, a new proposal could change that. Meinka reports on these considerations.

The Bti tablets, which only work against mosquito larvae, contain protein crystals from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. These are completely harmless to humans and animals, while they effectively combat tiger mosquito larvae. But even when the tablets are handed out, personal consultations will have to take place in the future before the tablets can be distributed to citizens. There is a need for action here, because many town halls cannot provide management staff for training measures, as the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Health argues. SWR illustrates the challenges that these regulations bring with them.

A nightmare for nature

The Asian tiger mosquito is not only an annoying biter, it can also transmit serious diseases such as chikungunya, dengue and Zika viruses if it bites an infected returning traveler. So far, there are no known locally transmitted infections caused by the tiger mosquito in Germany, but there are already such cases in other EU countries such as France or Spain. Meinka emphasizes that tiger mosquitoes are mainly found in warmer regions of Baden-Württemberg. This particularly affects areas along the Upper Rhine, where the mosquito population is growing rapidly.

To prevent the spread, it is important to avoid pooling water in gardens. This applies to buckets, watering cans and flower pot saucers, which should be emptied regularly. “Water is the breeding ground for tiger mosquitoes,” explains SWR. Bird baths or dog bowls should also be given fresh water weekly to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. Sightings should be reported to the Municipal Action Group to Combat the Flycatcher Plague (KABS).

A balancing act between health and nature conservation

The use of Bti tablets is viewed critically by nature conservation organizations such as NABU. They warn that the biological agent could endanger not only tiger mosquitoes, but also other useful mosquito species. NABU species protection officer Alexandra Ickes emphasizes that advice is still important in order to avoid the improper use of Bti tablets. daily news states that Baden-Württemberg is considered a hotspot for the tiger mosquito in 24 of 44 urban and rural districts.

The new EU regulation, which requires consultations on the distribution of Bti tablets, is providing additional material for discussion. Politicians like Daniel Caspary, CDU member of the European Parliament, emphasize that the bureaucratic effort is not only due to the EU, but also to German legislation. daily news explains the current situation and the challenges that need to be overcome.