Bavaria’s Health Minister Klaus Holetschek (CSU) is having more checks carried out to determine the extent to which non-native mosquito species are spreading in Bavaria as a result of climate change. Tiger mosquitoes were only detected in Würzburg this week, his ministry announced on Friday.
Bavaria has expanded its monitoring of non-resident mosquitoes to a total of six locations this year. “The focus is in particular on the Asian tiger mosquito, which under certain circumstances can spread pathogens of diseases such as dengue, Zika or West Nile fever,” said Holetschek according to the announcement.
Mosquito traps will be in place at six different locations by autumn. When planning the site, places were also included where individual finds of the Asian tiger mosquito had already been found in 2022. You can recognize the Asian tiger mosquito by its striking black and white pattern. In addition to the black and white ringed body and legs, she wears a white line that runs down the middle from head to chest. In addition, the tiger mosquito is significantly smaller and more aggressive compared to native mosquitoes.
Atypical or conspicuous mosquito specimens can be sent to the State Office for Health or to the “Mosquito Atlas Germany”. “Currently, the risk of transmission of exotic viruses through non-native mosquitoes such as the Asian tiger mosquito is very low,” said the health minister. However, climate change could increase such infections. The monitoring is important in order to get an overview of the spread of the Asian tiger mosquito in Bavaria and to develop practicable strategies to combat it.