Southern black fly species discovered in Germany for the first time - Increase in Southern Mosquitoes Spotted in Germany
Title: A Heat-Loving Biting Midge Makes Its Way North – First Sighting in Germany
One creature never expected to bit your ankle in Germany is making a northern debut – the Anopheles hycranus, a midge hailing from warmer regions. A group of researchers led by entomologist Doreen Werner, from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (Zalf), stumbled upon these bloodthirsty critters in easter Brandenburg.
Last year, they found 62 of these midges at two locations in the Oder floodplains, with the discovery confirmed by biologist Helge Kampen from the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut. This marks the northernmost records worldwide and the first in Germany, says Kampen. The Anopheles hycranus, native to southern regions like the Iberian Peninsula and the Near East, looks to be thriving due to changing northern climates.
It seems that humans have somehow carried this heat-loving species, as Kampen suggests. Despite being a potential carrier of diseases like malaria parasites and viruses, Kampen hasn't pinpointed it as significantly harmful to humans, at least for now. "Average citizens got nothing to fear from these pesky critters," says Kampen.
Anopheles hycranus can, theoretically, transmit malaria parasites to humans if they get their little midge hands on someone returning from a tropical getaway. However, don't grab your bug repellent just yet. The species is considered a less significant transmitter compared to European's already resident Asian tiger mosquito.
The specimens were captured in traps deployed in late summer 2024, with the majority found near Quappendorf and a handful near the nearby Zeschdorf. The team intends to set up traps in the same areas this year to see if the specimen count increases. The discovery will soon be published online in the journal "Parasites & Vectors."
With the threat of mosquito-borne diseases looming on the horizon, European health authorities and environmental agencies need to rev up their monitoring efforts. Public awareness and control measures will also play crucial roles in preventing the potential spread of diseases like malaria. Let's stay ahead of the biting game, shall we?
- Germany
- Mosquito
- Anopheles hyrcanus
- Biting midge
- Müncheberg
- Entomologist
- Doreen Werner
- Helge Kampen
- Climate Change
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut
- Wetlands
- Mosquito-borne diseases
- Malaria
- Asian tiger mosquito
- Integrated pest management
Anopheles hyrcanus is a species of mosquito that belongs to the family Culicidae. It is known for its potential to transmit diseases like malaria and filariasis. The discovery of this species in Germany could be linked to climate change, which is altering ecosystems and habitats, allowing species like Anopheles hyrcanus to expand their geographical ranges.While it is not typically referred to as a "biting midge," the species Anopheles hyrcanus is a potential transmitter of viruses and filariae (Dirofilaria). The species is found in Asia and parts of Europe, preferring areas with standing water. European health authorities and environmental agencies should consider monitoring and surveillance, public awareness, and control measures in light of this development.
- The discovered Anopheles hyrcanus, a type of mosquito, has the potential to transmit both malaria parasites and viruses, as it is a member of the family Culicidae that carries such diseases.
- The Anopheles hyrcanus found in Germany could be a result of climate change, as alterations in the environment and ecosystems are allowing species to broaden their geographical ranges.
- European health authorities and environmental agencies need to consider implementing monitoring and surveillance, raising public awareness, and applying control measures in response to the discovery of Anopheles hyrcanus in Germany, as it poses a potential threat due to its ability to transmit diseases.
