Killer Mozzy Alert: Spain’s most dangerous mosquito – the Tiger Mosquito – is back.
Credit: InsectWorld, Shutterstock.
Mosquito invasion: Spain faces rising health threat
Spain’s sunshine might draw in the tourists, but it’s also rolling out the welcome mat for some of the deadliest mosquitoes on the planet. Experts warn invasive species are spreading fast, and they’re not just bringing itchy bites but the risk of serious foreign diseases like dengue, chikungunya, Zika and West Nile fever.
Why mozzies are moving in
Forget long, cold winters. With summers starting earlier, winters turning mild, and just a dash of humidity, Spain is fast becoming mosquito heaven. “In general, the combination of heat and water is very positive for all mosquitoes,” said entomologist Roger Eritja, of citizen science platform Mosquito Alert, as quoted by El Periódico.
They thrive in the tiniest puddles, such as rainwater trapped in plant pots, buckets or even an abandoned bottle cap. Eritja explained: “Their presence is very related to the water present in small containers in homes.”
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The deadliest species
Top of the danger list is the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), notorious for spreading nasty tropical viruses. Once a summer nuisance, it is now hanging around longer. “We can say that, in recent years, there seems to be an extension of its activity period into late autumn and early spring, probably due to mild temperatures,” Eritja warned.
But the tiger is not alone. Spain is now home to three invasive biters. Here’s the danger list:
- The tiger mosquito
- The Japanese mosquito
- The yellow fever mosquito
And it is that last one that gives experts sleepless nights. “From a health perspective, the tiger mosquito and especially the yellow fever mosquito are concerning, as they are excellent transmitters of dengue, chikungunya, Zika and other viruses,” Eritja said. The real danger kicks in when someone infected abroad comes home. One bite later, and the virus can spread into the local mosquito population. This can be disastrous.
Climate change: Friend or foe?
Global warming is giving mozzies a major leg-up. Warmer temperatures speed up their life cycle and allow them to thrive in cooler months and higher altitudes. It is what scientists call “tropicalisation,” Spain turning more like the tropics, minus the palm trees.
But before you start picturing a biblical plague, there is a twist. If temperatures soar too high, mosquitoes suffer too. “A strong rise in temperatures harms them as much as humans,” Eritja pointed out. For now, though, the gradual warming trend is working in their favour.
Not all mozzies are equal
Spain actually has more than 60 mosquito species, and most of them don’t tend to bite people. Some prefer wetlands and appear only in spring and autumn, when floods give them breeding grounds. Others, like the tiger and the common house mosquito, are the ones turning your patio into a battlefield.
Tech takes the sting out
The fightback is under way. Spain’s Mosquito Alert project with the Spanish Health Ministry has rolled out a new artificial intelligence system called AIMA, which can identify invasive species in less than five minutes from photos snapped by the public. Since 2023, citizen sleuths armed with smartphones have helped confirm the tiger mosquito in 156 municipalities, while the Japanese mosquito has been spotted creeping into parts of Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country. With more than 27,000 observations logged in two years, the app has become a vital early-warning tool for health authorities. Every image helps build a live national risk map. When it comes to mozzies, the public really are the eyes on the ground.
The unstoppable march
And the map is filling up fast. First spotted in Spain in 2004, the tiger mosquito has now been confirmed in a jaw-dropping 1,763 municipalities, according to a recent special report by Spanish news outlet Antena 3 Noticias.
Once confined to the Mediterranean coast, it has marched north and inland, thriving in areas once thought too cold. From Catalonia to Madrid, Murcia to the Basque Country, and even the Canary Islands where a specimen was recently found in Tenerife, its spread has been practically unstoppable. Experts admit it is an invader that never leaves. “Where it settles, it establishes itself permanently,” said Eritja, now co-director of the Servei de Control de Mosquits del Baix Llobregat. With 80% of the Mediterranean coast already colonised, health chiefs warn the only option left is to limit numbers, not dream of eradication.
Protect your patch!
Keep an eye on water around the house. That innocent-looking saucer under your flowerpot might be less garden chic and more five-star nursery for killer mozzies.
Don’t give tiger mozzies a home. Empty water from pots, buckets and bottles, and report any sightings on the Mosquito Alert app. Spain’s health depends on all of us keeping these bloodsuckers in check.
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