We associate them with hot summer nights, when when we cuddle them in the sheets, their hum keeps us from falling asleep. With the arrival of mild temperatures, if we say goodbye to drinks on the terrace and barbecues, without regret we will find quiet nights without mosquitoes.
Several types of mosquitoes are widespread in Europe, and their methods of survival and survival during the winter vary. First, there are the humble Culex mosquitoes, the most common in our regions, which wait until spring to lay eggs, explains entomologist Fabrice Chandry. Actu.fr : “When temperatures drop, females do not lay eggs. Rather, they take refuge in basements or caves to hibernate.” In contrast, tiger mosquitoes, a species from Asia, do not survive the winter, and females lay eggs before they die. “The eggs are somehow programmed to hatch as the days get longer.” In the face of the consequences of global warming and milder winters, these two mosquito species are able to lay eggs without seasonal interruption. I asked about the topic sodenfoArnold Van Fleet, a biologist at the university to Wageningen in the Netherlands declares without appeal: “We have to get used to these insects being active all year round.”.
Increased disease transmission
Aside from the discomfort of itching, it is “Danger of mosquito-borne diseases [qui] As Yazid” Arnold Van Fleet worries. For the humble Culex mosquito, this represents an increased risk of the annual presence of conditions such as West Nile fever, an avian disease that is already on the rise. “Mosquito vectors are infected by biting infected birds. They can contaminate humans and domestic herbivores such as horses through bites. The infection is transmitted most of the time. In 20% of cases, the disease manifests as an influenza-like syndrome with fever, headache, and pain in The body, and in very rare cases (approximately 1 case in 150 cases), the disease manifests itself in an acute neurological form (aseptic meningitis, meningoencephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis, Guillain-Barré syndrome) is prescribed mainly in weakened subjects.According to the French Ministry of Health.
The tiger mosquito, which health services particularly fear, can carry viruses such as chikungunya, dengue and Zika. “Previously restricted to the tropics, the tiger mosquito is now present in our regions and appears to be able to survive Belgian winters. Without treatment, dengue can be fatal.warns the Dutch biologist.
How do you protect yourself from it?
With 800,000 deaths worldwide each year, mosquitoes are the most dangerous animal to humans. It is difficult to stop their spread, but they can still be kept at bay by some measures, such as removing stagnant water spots near homes, as this is where the larvae develop. The evidence is that the most common place for mosquitoes in winter is the subway: “This phenomenon is very well documented in the London Underground, where mosquitoes have adapted to the underground corridors and no longer come out. They have taken a different evolutionary path to those who live outdoors. They have access to water, and there is a regular human presence to feed themselves. “They have everything to be happy and reproduce.” Entomologist Frédéric Simard reports in France information.
To avoid being bitten, the advice is often already known but not always foolproof: install a mosquito net around your bed, wear repellent or even avoid outdoor activities at times when mosquitoes are most active.
