Present since 2012 in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the tiger mosquito has gradually settled in 10 of the 12 departments of the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region (Ain, Ardèche, Drôme, Isère, Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, Rhône, Savoie, Haute-Savoie and recently Cantal). Only the departments of Allier and Haute-Loire remain little impacted.
Aedes albopictus, known as the “tiger mosquito”, is native to Southeast Asia and is distinguished by its contrasting black and white coloring. Very small in size, it bites mainly outside houses, during the day, with a peak of aggression at daybreak and dusk. This mosquito develops in artificial habitats where water stagnates, such as flower pot cups, used tires, bulky items, children’s games, rainwater collectors, terraces on pedestals, gutters… It only needs small amounts of water to grow. The tiger mosquito is the potential vector of dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika, known as “arboviruses”. It only transmits these diseases when it itself is infected.
Mosquito control is mainly done in your garden
The tiger mosquito lives within a perimeter of 150 meters around the breeding sites. Thus, a tiger mosquito that bites a person is mostly born on that person’s property or in their vicinity. It is therefore up to everyone to act, by adopting a behavior of simple and non-binding gestures. Everyone must participate in the fight against the proliferation of this pest. When you are at home, take the time to observe the insects there by trying to detect tiger mosquitoes, and implement the means to limit their proliferation: empty cups, clean gutters, cover water tanks, prevent water stagnation in pools that are not in use, etc.
State services also ask you to report areas where the mosquito is present via the site signalement-moustique.fr