2023-07-29 08:05:41
The plague of mosquitoes is one of those that more has grown, and it will continue like this in 2023, according to Luis Lozano, a technician from ADEPAP (Catalan Association of Environmental Health Companies). Its growth, like that of many species, It is mainly due to two factors: climate change and the return of tourism.
A team of experts has revealed how environmental characteristics influence and the structure of sewage systems and fountains in the presence of mosquitoes in urban environments.
The investigation was based on data collected between 2015 and 2019 in the city of Barcelona. The presence of larvae of three species of mosquitoes in water infrastructures, such as sewers and ornamental fountains, of the ten districts of Barcelona. The species studied were the Asian tiger mosquito (‘Aedes albopictus’), the common mosquito (‘Culex pipiens’) and the species ‘Culiseta longiareolata’.
The results of the study
The study highlights that the sources without water recirculation system, las moderate temperatures and the accumulation of water in the sewer are related to an increase in mosquito populations in the urban areas.
The results determine an increase in minimum temperatures and rainfall are associated with a greater presence of mosquitoes in the city, while both very high temperatures and very abundant rains contribute to reducing their proliferation.
In the case of sources, it was observed that Mosquitoes colonized especially those that do not have systems for the recirculation of water and that have vegetation around them.
Reduce the risk to public health
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“These results provide valuable information for understanding how the structure of our cities influences the presence of mosquitoes and how with small actions we can reduce their populations. To the better understand the factors and processes that affect their populations in cities, we can work on the development of effective strategies to control them and reduce the risk to public health“, explains the main author of the study and researcher at the EBD-CSIC Martina Ferraguti.
The study has been carried out by the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), together with the University of Granada (UGR), the Biomedical Research Center in Epidemiology and Public Health Network and the Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB).
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