Tackling Tiger Mosquitoes with Tablets: Simplifying the Battle in Baden-Württemberg
Controlling Tiger Mosquitoes Made Simpler Through Intake of Tablets - Streamlining Tablet Usability
Hey there! Let's talk about those nagging Asian Tiger Mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) that have been causing quite a stir in parts of Germany. The state of Baden-Württemberg has put forth a proposal to make it easier to combat these small but dangerous mosquitoes, particularly in the southwest, by using Bti-tablets.
Why are Tiger Mosquitoes a big deal?
These little guys might be small, but they pack a punch. At 2 to 10 millimeters long, they are recognized by their distinctive black and white stripes. They are infamous carriers of viruses like Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika, which can be harmful to humans if transmitted. However, for a local Tiger Mosquito to transmit these tropical viruses, it needs to bite an infected traveler and absorb the virus through the blood.
The first known populations of Tiger Mosquitoes surfaced in Freiburg im Breisgau and Heidelberg back in 2015. Since then, they have made their way into warmer regions of Baden-Württemberg, including along the Upper Rhine, the Rhine-Neckar region, and the middle Neckar. Since 2025, populations have also been detected at Lake Constance.
But fret not, there haven't been any disease outbreaks caused by Tiger Mosquitoes in Germany. No locally transmitted cases of Dengue or Chikungunya have been reported.
How do Bti-tablets work?
Enter Bti-tablets. These bad boys contain protein crystals from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. These protein crystals are toxic to larvae of biting mosquitoes and midges in low doses. They specifically target and destroy the gut tissue of larvae, causing them to die. Fortunately, Bti-tablets are not harmful to humans, pets, birds, or other animals.
Bti-tablets have already been available for purchase and distribution, but the process can be complicated due to EU guidelines that require personal consultation with knowledgeable staff. Baden-Württemberg's initiative aims to simplify this process.
So, when should you use Bti tablets?
These tablets come in handy when conventional measures like disposal, renovation, or sealing don't work. They can be used in places like rain barrels, cisterns, manholes, or drains where water stands for a long time. The tablets are biodegradable and need to be reapplied approximately every 14 days.
Let's compare Tiger Mosquitoes with native species:
Tiger Mosquitoes are more active during the day and are quite enthusiastic about biting compared to native biting mosquitoes. They are very small, and their distinctive black and white stripes make them easy to spot. Unlike many native biting mosquito species, Tiger Mosquitoes prefer small water accumulations as breeding sites, such as tree hollows, flower vases, buckets, or puddles on tarpaulins or in discarded tires.
The nature conservation association, NABU, encourages maintaining consultation sessions to avoid misusing or incorrectly using Bti. In their eyes, systematic eradication of biting mosquitoes is not ideal, as these species play a crucial role in the ecosystem. They are essential for fish, amphibians, bats, birds, and more, while the approval of Bti is based on risk assessment, not harmlessness. The use of Bti tablets is heavily regulated in Europe and governed by the EU Biocide Regulation.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- World Health Organization
- European centre for disease prevention and control
- eurosurveillance
- PubMed Central
So, that's a roundup of the Asian Tiger Mosquito situation! Remember, knowledge is power, and using that knowledge to keep yourself and your surroundings safe is essential.
The Commission, in its responsibility, has been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment in the Community, considering the potential impact of exotic species like the Asian Tiger Mosquito. Furthermore, understanding the science behind combat strategies such as the use of Bti-tablets for mosquito control could contribute significantly to health-and-wellness efforts, particularly in managing medical-conditions transmitted by these insects.
