The tiger mosquito has taken up residence in the Pays de la Loire. 200 traps were set in consultation with the regional health agency to prevent the development and proliferation of larvae of this insect.
Bucket, water can, and larvicide… These are the working tools of Théo Pineau, entomologist or insect specialist at Inovalyslaboratory responsible for monitoring the proliferation of mosquitoes in the Pays de la Loire region.
From mid-April to mid-November, the period during which the tiger mosquito is active, each month, it detects the traps that have been set up in strategic locations. “These are places with a high population density, large urban units such as Nantes, Angers, Le Mans. It can also be around markets of national interest where goods transit, at train stations and airports. , or near sensitive sites such as hospitals”specifies the specialist.
200 tiger mosquito traps like this one have been placed in Pays de la Loire. • © France 3 Pays de la Loire-Cyril Dudon
These traps allow it to locate each month where the majority of tiger mosquitoes live.
They consist of a bucket of water, covered with a net to allow only mosquitoes to enter. In this container, we pour a larvicide – to prevent the development of larvae in the water and on the edges of the bucket – and a piece of polystyrene which floats and thus traps the eggs laid on it.
200 of these traps have been set across the region. “Between heat and rain, this year was favorable for the tiger mosquito. We found more reactive traps and more Loire residents alerted us to the presence of the insect”explains Theo.
13 municipalities infested
According to the Inovalys laboratory and the regional health agency, which work in collaboration, the tiger mosquito arrived in the region in 2015. “At the time, we discovered it on a motorway rest area in Vendée”, specifies the entomologist. ” Today, 11 Loire communes have already been colonized. Two new municipalities have just joined the list: Orvault and Les Garennes-sur-Loire.
Among these 11 municipalities are in Loire-Atlantique: Nantes, Rezé, Saint-Sébastien-sur-Loire, Bouguenais and Le Pellerin. In Maine-et-Loire, Trélazé and Bellevigne-les-Châteaux are affected. In Mayenne, Château-Gontier. Finally in Vendée, Fontenay-le-Comte and Sainte-Hermine are part of the list.
Map of the presence of the tiger mosquito in France • © Ministry of Health
Map of the presence of the tiger mosquito in France (source: Ministry of Health).
The tiger mosquito is a very small mosquito, no bigger than a 20 euro cent coin. Its black and silver-white bands characterize it, hence the name “tiger” mosquito. “It has a white stripe on the thorax, and rear legs with black and white stripes”explains Théo Pineau.
“A tiger mosquito can lay between 75 and 200 eggs every four days. And its eggs become mosquitoes in just one week.
It will lay eggs in urban environments, where there are quantities of stagnant water such as buckets, rainwater tanks, blocked gutters, flower pot saucers.
To fight against the tiger mosquito and its proliferation, all everyday stagnant water must be removed or dried up.
Théo Pineau
Insect specialist
A campaign to combat the proliferation of the tiger mosquito has been set up in Pays de la Loire. • © France 3 Pays de la Loire-Cyril Dudon
The tiger mosquito is dangerous because it is a vector of viruses responsible for dengue, chikungunya and Zika, mostly tropical diseases. It becomes a carrier of the virus as soon as it bites a person already suffering from this disease.
Hence increased surveillance of hospitals and traps installed near them. “We detect the traps every 15 days at the airport and in hospital areas, where people already suffering from these diseases may transit or be in care”concludes the specialist.
Gwénaëlle Hivert, head of the Health and Environment prevention division at the Pays de la Loire regional health agency, specifies: “We hope that every citizen is aware of the potential dangers of the tiger mosquito, but do not panic. In the region, the tiger mosquito has so far not caused any cases of dengue, chikungunya or Zika.”
Anyone who notices the presence of a tiger mosquito near their home can take a photo and report it to ANSES, the national agency for food, environmental and occupational health safety. This report will then make it possible to trigger an ARS investigation to identify and better limit its proliferation around this location.
With Lison Barrocal
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