Agen: if we could send the tiger mosquito to lay its eggs elsewhere

"Three locally installed traps have detected the presence of eggs in our territory of the Agglomeration of Agen. This confirms that the mosquito is well established in our environment," emphasizes the community. The people of Agen have been convinced of this for several years, but they are far from being the only ones to whom the creature gives spots. "At the end of 2024, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the tiger mosquito was present in all departments, except Creuse," emphasizes the Regional Health Agency (ARS). "It is established in 1,485 of the region's 4,306 municipalities (34% of them), with 565 new municipalities colonized compared to the previous year. 71% of the region's population is now affected by the tiger mosquito." The ARS and the specialized company Altopictus also provide a map of this infestation in France .

Southwest Screenshot
While the invasion and establishment of the tiger mosquito is nothing new, it is a potential vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, and poses a public health risk. Mosquito control operations are only undertaken when there is a health risk of contamination. : if a person returns to mainland France with a virus transmitted by the tiger mosquito, their living area will be treated to prevent the virus from being transmitted. Except that this mosquito control does not reach the larvae, which are sheltered in their stagnant water reserves. There is only one solution according to the ARS: "Cut off the water to the mosquitoes!"
It's up to everyone to deprive the undesirable of this water, because the insect's range of 150 m proves that it is born in your neighborhood. "Vases, pots and bowls, water collectors, barrels, cans, bungs, gutters, rainwater manholes, gutters, terraces on plots, or even in objects left in the garden" must be kept dry. "Last season, in Gironde, more than 50% of the larval breeding sites discovered were located in a water collector," notes the ARS.
SudOuest