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Mosquitoes are retreating: this is how they survive the winter!
Mosquito season in Rhineland-Palatinate ends: KABS ends the fight while tiger mosquitoes get ready for winter.
Mosquitoes are retreating: this is how they survive the winter!
Autumn has arrived, and for the mosquitoes on the Upper Rhine that means it's time to say goodbye to the winter break. After a long and hot summer, she explains n-tv that the municipal action group to combat the mosquito plague (Kabs) has finished its work for this year. The shorter days and the falling temperatures are a clear signal for the little pests to return to their winter quarters.
The stilt walkers are particularly active in the warmer months, but they retreat with the autumn evenings. While house mosquitoes overwinter as adult females in cellars, sheds or caves, swamp forest mosquitoes survive in water as larvae. The Asian tiger mosquito in particular shows an interesting recipe for survival. This type of mosquito lays hardy eggs that are equipped with antifreeze molecules to survive cold nights.
The Asian tiger mosquito in focus
The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) has become an increasing problem in the region since it was discovered in 2007 at a rest stop near Weil am Rhein SWR3 reported. The small mosquito, which reaches a body size of only 3.5 to 8 mm and can be recognized by five conspicuous white stripes on its hind legs, has particularly spread in the Rhine Valley and Lake Constance. Their preferences for warm weather and the effects of climate change contribute to the spread.
The tiger mosquitoes are active during the day and are not only a nuisance, but also vectors of diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and West Nile. While no infections have been documented in Germany so far, the population is still encouraged to report sightings. This allows new populations to be discovered in good time. The Stuttgart Health Department and the Saarland University Hospital also offer reporting forms to support the population.
Mosquito control measures
Fighting the mosquito plague is not cheap. The city of Kehl plans to spend over 250,000 euros on countermeasures. The Konstanz district has already identified three known populations on Lake Constance, while the KABS in Karlsruhe has achieved success. There are a few simple tips to make life more difficult for mosquitoes: water accumulation should be avoided, Bti tablets can be used and fly screens on windows also help to contain the plague.
A little patience is required because although the mosquitoes are now going into hibernation, individual tiger mosquitoes can be active until November. So anyone who discovers a mosquito in the house cannot dismiss the likelihood that it is a house mosquito. The fight against pests is and remains an important issue for the region - and the municipalities continue to work on strategies to combat them.