Asian tiger mosquito

Features:

• 3-10mm (smaller than a 1 cent coin)
• 5 white rings on hind legs (the rearmost pair of legs ends in white)
• White line from the back of the head to the base of the wings
• Push-button with silver-white tips
• Day active

The Asian tiger mosquito can only transmit pathogens if it has previously bitten an infected person and then bites a healthy person. As diseases such as dengue fever have only rarely occurred in Saarland and only in travellers returning home, the risk of transmission has so far been classified as low. There is therefore no cause for concern in the event of a bite. However, if you experience symptoms of illness such as fever, headaches and aching limbs a few days after a mosquito bite, you should consult your GP for clarification. This applies in particular after travelling to countries where the Asian tiger mosquito is more widespread.

As with other mosquito species, wearing long, closed clothing and using repellents (e.g. anti-mosquito sprays) outdoors can protect against tiger mosquito bites. Fly screens on windows and doors also help to prevent mosquitoes from entering the home. Due to the short flight radius of the Asian tiger mosquito, avoiding breeding sites on your own property and in the immediate vicinity can reduce the number of mosquitoes. This is one of the best ways to protect against the Asian tiger mosquito.

The most effective protection against the reproduction and spread of the Asian tiger mosquito is to avoid small, stagnant pools of water, which are used by the mosquitoes as breeding grounds:

• Cover rainwater collection containers with suitable nets or lids
  
• Clean buckets, vases, ashtrays, tarpaulins, old tyres etc. in which small amounts of water can collect when it rains and store/dispose of them upside down in a dry place.
• Empty flowerpot saucers, paddling pools and birdbaths at least once a week
  
• Clean rain gutters regularly to prevent water accumulation
• Permanently seal open fence tubes or holes in the masonry
• Establish natural predators of mosquitoes in garden ponds (e.g. dragonfly larvae)
• Do not dispose of stagnant water down the drain, but pour it into the garden to prevent the possible spread of mosquito eggs and larvae

Winter measures: Cleaning and storage

Before winter, the tiger mosquito lays so-called diapause eggs, which can survive cold temperatures and dryness. Therefore, objects that are to be stored or disposed of must be thoroughly cleaned beforehand:

• Scrub objects thoroughly with water and a brush and/or clean with a high-pressure cleaner
• Store cleaned items upside down, closed and/or in a dry place to prevent water from collecting again

No. So far there have been no confirmed findings of the Asian tiger mosquito in the Saarpfalz district.

As the Asian tiger mosquito can be confused with other mosquito species, the public health department asks you to send a meaningful photo of the mosquito with exact details of where it was found to the Saarpfalz district health department by e-mail.

Captured mosquitoes can also be sent to the Mosquito Atlas (Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research). Please note the dispatch information given there.