Even if you disregard the fact that it spreads diseases, the tiger mosquito is a nasty animal, says Arjan Stroo insect expert and vector control coordinator at the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) in the Kennis&Co (NOS/NTR) podcast. “It is a strikingly annoying little black mosquito with a striking white stripe on it, which does not belong here. It comes from Southeast Asia, but has colonized large parts of the world.”
Many reports, mostly false alarms
The NVWA receives a large number of reports of tiger mosquitoes. Usually this is a false alarm, but sometimes it hits the spot and an inspector goes for it. If tiger mosquitoes are actually found, a specialized control team will be set up.
Unlike native mosquitoes, tiger mosquitoes do not lay eggs in surface water. They depend on containers with (rain) water, for example in gardens. Response teams remove standing water. Or kill the larvae with a specific pesticide. By scanning the area, they try to smother an outbreak.
Battle in Southern Europe lost
Invasive species such as the tiger mosquito are easiest to control at an early stage. A small number of mosquitoes can still be eradicated, says Stroo. So far, it has been possible to prevent the tiger mosquito from establishing itself in the Netherlands. In Southern Europe, the battle is now lost. Large numbers of mosquitoes live there and the mosquito is still expanding its habitat.
Initially, the mosquitoes arrived in the Netherlands through the import of plants and car tires from Asia. But more and more often they just come in by road. For example, via tourists who have traveled to Southern Europe by caravan.
2023-08-12 14:55:56
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