On the Mediterranean rim, the enemy of the season is back with the beautiful days: the mosquito. The town of Hyères-Les-Palmiers, near Toulon (Var), has taken matters into its own hands and has just installed 55 bollards against insects all along its coast. In total, the municipality now has 250 “mosquito vacuum cleaners” in the most populated areas: near campsites, housing estates, seaside restaurants… “We have invested one million euros in this anti-mosquito fight because it ‘is a major challenge for tourism,’ recognizes the city of Hyères.
It is true that the summer of 2018 had left a bitter taste to the actors of tourism: dozens of holidaymakers had left the coasts of the Var, infested by thousands of insects every evening in high season. Impossible to sleep, nor to live near water. Some had even obtained reimbursement for their stay. This is why summer 2020 must be impeccable: “We opted for an intelligent terminal which simulates human breathing by emitting recycled CO2 and which diffuses an olfactory lure to capture the mosquitoes by sucking them up. “
“The number of mosquitoes has been divided by ten”
Safe for the environment? ” No! answers Alexia Duart, from the Qista company which markets these devices. The terminals are connected to the urban electricity network and only trap female mosquitoes, which bite and lay thousands of eggs. Not the other insects. “
With an action perimeter of 60 m around the terminal, these mosquito vacuum cleaners have seduced the inhabitants of the coast: “I live very close to the sea and, behind my house, there is a water reservoir. Since these machines have been in operation, the number of mosquitoes has been divided by ten, ”says Thomas. “There is also simpler and cheaper: bats that swallow up to 12,000 mosquitoes per night! », Adds Mireille, a neighbor.
Close to Hyères, the town of Pradet has also ordered 13 anti-mosquito terminals. Individuals can also equip themselves for their garden but this has a price: 1000 euros for small models and 2200 euros for those intended for public space.
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