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The tiger mosquito attacks humans and animals, and can carry over 20 viruses that are devastating. His homeland is Asia, but he also reached other continents, including Europe. So far, his presence in Poland has not been confirmed, although in 2019 there were such concerns. Does this insect survive in the Polish climate? And what could the consequences be? We asked dr. Jarosław Pacoń from the University of Life Sciences in Wrocław.
- The laboratory has experimentally demonstrated that the tiger mosquito can transmit up to 22 pathogenic viruses, including dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya fever, and West Nile fever
- The tiger mosquito comes from Southeast Asia, but has spread throughout Asia, found its way to Africa, to the American continent, Australia and Europe
- Dr. Pacoń notes that if the tiger mosquito is found in Poland, but is not infected, it will not be dangerous for us
- You can find more such stories on the Onet homepage.
Why is the tiger mosquito so dangerous?
“The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is considered one of the 100 most dangerous invasive insects and the most dangerous invasive mosquito” – reports the Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS).
Mosquito Alert, a platform that brings together scientists to study and control the disease-transmitting mosquito population, recalls that the tiger mosquito is a public health problem. This is not only because of the irritation caused by its bites, but also because of its ability to transmit many diseases.
The laboratory has experimentally demonstrated that the tiger mosquito is able to infect up to 22 different viruses. The diseases they transmit include, among others Rift valley fever, Japanese encephalitis virus, West Nile disease. “In practice, the main diseases that can be transmitted in our environment are dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever,” says Mosquito Alert.
The tiger mosquito is dangerous not only to humans, but also to animals, including domestic animals, especially dogs and horses.
Which countries did the tiger mosquito reach?
The tiger mosquito is native to Southeast Asia. In recent decades, it has spread not only there, but also to Africa, to the American continent, Australia and Europe. It is favored by our globalization, especially the transport of used tires and plants. This is confirmed by Dr. Jarosław Pacoń.
– Tiger mosquitoes spread around the world along with sea transport. A typical example is transporting used tires to Europe or the Americas. Such tires are placed on ships, unsecured. During rains, water collects in them, and this attracts female mosquitoes, including tiger ones. Their larvae thrive in such an environment, he tells Medonet.
Tiger mosquito larvae can also be distributed with plants – in a moist substrate. The eggs of this insect are very resistant to drying out. It is estimated that they can survive without water for up to a year.
The tiger mosquito came to Europe in 1979, appearing in Albania. In 2004, it was first detected in Spain. Currently, it is also noted, inter alia, in in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy and Romania. The occurrence of the tiger mosquito in Europe is presented on the map below (as of March 2022). Areas where the presence of mosquitoes has been reported are marked in red.
Source: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/aedes-albopictus-current-known-distribution-march-2022
Could the tiger mosquito survive in Poland?
In 2019, Poland was informed that a biologist photographed a tiger mosquito in the region of Upper Silesia. – Upon closer examination, it turned out that it is not a tiger mosquito – says Dr. Pacoń. – So officially, the tiger mosquito did not reach Poland – he emphasizes. The scientist notes, however, that if a living individual was with us, it could survive.
– In our climate, tiger mosquito eggs can hibernate – said the entomologist, Prof. Stanisław Ignatowicz. – Under the temperature conditions we have today, the larvae develop from five to 2019 days, feeding on fragmented organic matter floating in the water. Later, a mobile floating pupa forms, and after two days an adult specimen appears. As you can see, the development is rapid, and the fertility is about a thousand eggs per female – the scientist calculated.
Dr. Jarosław Pacoń emphasizes that if the tiger mosquito is found in Poland, but is not infected, it will not be dangerous for us.
– He will behave like other “our” mosquitoes – he says. – Remember, the viruses mentioned above, the vector of which is the tiger mosquito, simply do not occur in us. Therefore, even if this mosquito is found in Poland, it is not a reason to panic – the scientist reassured.
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