2023-06-29 14:30:00
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Can you protect yourself from tiger mosquitoes?
Tiger mosquitoes feel particularly at home in places such as cemeteries or gardens. The reason for this is the large number of small water residues that collect, for example, in flower pots, rain gutters or watering cans. The mosquitoes lay their eggs just above the water surface. These can even survive the winter, so the mosquitoes hatch in the spring without worrying. Climate change and rising temperatures are making it easier for tiger mosquitoes to thrive here in Germany.
– Ad – What do tiger mosquitoes look like?
The small insects look more like a crooked cranefly and are smaller than a 1 cm coin. They originally come from Southeast Asia and found their way to Germany by importing bamboo and other products. They can be recognized by their black and white stripes and are between two and ten millimeters in size. They are also bad flyers and often stay close to the ground.
The nasty, aggressive insects have been around in Germany for over ten years. Tiger mosquitoes were first reported in Munich in 2019. Other cities in Germany are also struggling with them – including Jena, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Freiburg and Erding.
How dangerous are the tiger mosquitoes?
The tiger mosquito should not be underestimated as it can transmit tropical diseases that can be very dangerous for humans. In addition to dengue and Zika viruses, they can also be carriers of the chikungunya virus. The latter is seen as the greatest danger in Germany, since it can survive despite the prevailing climate here.
It’s still too cold in our area for the other two. However, it is reassuring that no virus infection caused by a tiger mosquito has been reported in Munich.
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How are the tiger mosquitoes fought in Munich?
In many places, specific measures are being taken to prevent the spread of the tiger mosquito. This is also the case in Munich: Munich relies on poison and traps because the city has hired a specialist company to set up traps at cemeteries and railway tracks.
Specific areas where the tiger mosquito could potentially lay eggs were also cleaned. In the affected gardens in Munich, small information boards warn and give tips on how to avoid a breeding site.
How can I protect myself from the tiger mosquitoes?
If you have a garden or a balcony at home, you can also do something to prevent the little meanies from multiplying. As in the cemeteries, you should avoid water residues in containers or flower pots and clean the areas regularly. What you can do is empty and cover potential breeding sites like watering cans and rain barrels if you don’t use these gardening tools regularly.
You should pay particular attention to cleanliness at the edges. This also applies to paddling or bird pools. One solution can be to cover water containers in the garden, such as rain barrels, or stretch a mosquito net over them. The golden rule: the fewer puddles and small pools of water that can accumulate in your garden or on your balcony, the lower the chance of encountering a tiger mosquito. You can also get vaccinated against dengue fever since February 2023.
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