Asian tiger mosquito on the rise in the Netherlands: NVWA calls on reports of sightings

Last year, the tiger mosquito was found in 35 Dutch municipalities. That is more than double compared to a year earlier, when the mosquito was still present in fifteen municipalities. The first tiger mosquito in the Netherlands was seen in 2005, but only Friesland and Groningen are now safe.

There is currently no evidence that the tiger mosquito reproduces or hibernates in the Netherlands. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is trying to prevent the mosquito from ‘establishing itself’ in this way. If tiger mosquitoes stay here for a longer period of time, the chance that they will spread diseases increases.

The tiger mosquito originates from Southeast Asia, but now also feels at home in large parts of Southern Europe. According to the NVWA, the insect spreads via bamboo houseplants, among other things. The eggs of the tiger mosquito can also hitch a ride on trucks, cars and caravans. In recent years, the mosquito has been able to establish itself in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary and northern parts of France.

The fact that the tiger mosquito appears more often means more work for the NVWA. To stop the advance, inspectors from that organization place mosquito traps in places where the tiger mosquito has been observed. Inspectors also remove potential breeding grounds, such as flower pots, buckets and vases containing a (stagnant) layer of water. Anyone who sees a tiger mosquito is urged to report this to the NVWA.

ILLUSTRATION OF MOSQUITO AND COIN