1. How do we differentiate between a “mosquito” and a “tiger mosquito”?
It’s very simple. The tiger mosquito is silent and tends to bite during the day, while the tiger mosquito – and its buzzing sound – tends to make our nights a nightmare. The tiger mosquito, as its name suggests, is black and white; It is generally smaller (5 mm on average) than mosquitoes.
2. Where did the tiger mosquito settle in Franche-Comté and Lorraine, and why?
It was first discovered in France in 2004, and has continued to colonize new sections since then, as can be seen in the map below. It has now been installed in Doubs and Jura since 2020, and in Meurthe-et-Moselle since 2021.
The species is ranked among the most invasive in the world. Once installed, “it becomes practically impossible to dispose of,” the Ministry of Health notes. It particularly appreciates urban environments, and tolerates temperature changes well, which explains why it eventually settled with us.
3. How to slow its spread?
The Burgundy-Franche-Comté ARS states that mosquitoes most often lay their eggs in stagnant water, so small tanks should be removed. Among other things: regularly emptying cups under flower pots, covering water collectors, sheltering watering cans, wheelbarrows, tarpaulins, umbrella bases, etc.
Please also note that in order to combat the spread of tiger mosquitoes, ANSES (National Agency for Sanitary Security) has set up an online portal for reporting these species, Available by clicking here.
4. Does the tiger mosquito only appear in summer?
The period of activity of the species exceeds summer. Bites are generally reported from early May to late November.
5. How do you recognize a tiger mosquito bite?
In general, a tiger mosquito bite is more painful and itches for longer than a mosquito bite. After the bite, we generally see the appearance of redness (about 3 cm) with a swelling in the middle, “pimple-like”, slightly lighter than the skin color. “The blister is usually hard, hot, and painful,” notes ARS.
6. What danger does the tiger mosquito pose?
The tiger mosquito is a potential vector of viral diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika. If it bites an infected person or animal, it can then transmit the pathogen in a subsequent bite.
However, it must be remembered that the three diseases mentioned are called “tropical”. It occurs in humid and hot climates, and its cases are extremely rare in our regions. For more than ten years, all cases of tropical virus infections reported in Burgundy-Franche-Comté, almost all of them in Grand Est, involved people returning from a trip abroad. For the Grand Foundation, a rare case of local malaria was reported in Strasbourg in 2010.
While the tiger mosquito bite is benign in most cases, slowing the spread of this species helps reduce the risk of tropical disease epidemics.
7. What should I do if I get bitten?
Most of the time…not much. But if one of the following symptoms appears after a tiger mosquito bite, it will be necessary to consult a health professional: fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle or joint pain, referred orbital pain, nausea, inflammation of the lymph nodes, etc. .
