Caution: Biting Midges on the Rise, Thanks to Summer
Mosquito activity reduced due to drought conditions, a reprieve lasting until the summer season.
It might be a relief to find fewer mosquitoes during spring, but experts warn that we might experience a surge during summer. The current scarcity is attributed to the ongoing drought caused by climate change, making it difficult for biting midges to breed.
"In these dry conditions, breeding spots diminish, which means fewer biting midges," explain Renke Lühken from the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg. For instance, many natural breeding grounds like wetlands often dry up during spring, and artificial breeding spots such as rain barrels are also almost empty. This scarcity is echoed by Carsten Pusch, deputy state chairman of the Nature Conservation Union (NABU) in Schleswig-Holstein and an insect expert, who shares, "I have not seen so few biting midges in a year as I have this year."
However, this temporary reprieve should not spell complete relief for the summer. "The dry spring does not guarantee a mild summer when it comes to biting midges. So, you can still be bitten like crazy in July or August," cautions Lühken. For example, floodplain midges, whose eggs are resistant to drought for years, can still wreak havoc when the rains come, leading to another midge plague.
Tiger Mosquito: A Growing Threat
The ongoing concern remains the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which is now also asserting itself in Germany. Lühken points out that the species has been stable in the southern part of Germany for nearly ten years and is on the move northward, with Berlin being the northernmost population.
As the tiger mosquito establishes itself in Germany, the risk of tropical diseases like West Nile virus, dengue, and Zika rises. If you suspect that you've encountered one of these mosquitoes, notify your local health department. They're small—about the size of a one-cent coin—with a black body, white stripes, and five white rings on their hind legs. Catch one alive, freeze it overnight, and send it in a small container as soon as possible for testing.
Sources: ntv.de, as/dpa
- Climate Change
- Drought
- Tropical Diseases
- NABU
- Asian Tiger Mosquito
Insight:
Expert warnings about a possible resurgence of biting midges in summer, despite a decrease this spring, should not be ignored. The current scarcity is primarily due to the ongoing drought, but factors like floodplain midges with their drought-resistant eggs can still lead to another plague when conditions are right. The Asian tiger mosquito, which is expanding its range in Germany, poses a significant threat as it can transmit diseases like dengue and Zika.
References:[1] USEPA (2021). Mosquitoes and Climate Change. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/mosquitoes-and-climate-change
[2] World Health Organization (2021). Climate Change and Health: Impacts, Vulnerabilities, and Risks. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/climate-change-and-health
[3] Schmidt et al. (2018). Climate change and mosquito-borne diseases: risks and opportunities for Europe. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/veee/article/21/2/veee069/5867486
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive concerning climate change and its impact on health-and-wellness, as the rise in biting midges is a symptom of this global issue. Moreover, in the field of environmental science, the ongoing concern of the Asian tiger mosquito's expansion in Germany highlights the urgent need for vigilance and preventive measures against tropical diseases such as dengue and Zika.
