The tiger mosquito – an aggressive biting insect with the potential to carry harmful viruses – is gaining a foothold in Belgium. The public can play their part in stopping their growth.
Tiger mosquitoes were recorded in 25 locations in Belgium last year – twice as many as in 2022. The tiger mosquito is an invasive species that has the potential to transmit viruses. It is not currently a problem in Belgium, but the risk is growing.
Belgium’s issue is increasingly returning holidaymakers and freight, federal health institute Sciensano says. The mosquito is mostly found in warmer regions, but is on the rise in northern Europe in part due to global warming.
“We see the tiger mosquito advancing in the countries around us,” says Isra Deblauwe, an entomologist at the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp. “And it really is gaining a foothold in Belgium.”
The risk of virus transmission remains low, but will increase if the insect is able to flourish.
“The tiger mosquito is an invasive biting insect that bites aggressively during the day. They can also carry tropical viruses such as dengue fever, Chikungunya and Zika,” Deblauwe says. “That has already happened in France, including in Paris for the first time.”
The tiger mosquito is an invasive biting insect that bites aggressively during the day. They can also carry tropical viruses
In Lebbeke (East Flanders) and Wilrijk (Antwerp), there is evidence that the insect survived the winter, something the ITM is investigating.
Between May and October, members of the public reported 600 possible sightings to Sciensano, resulting in 27 mosquitoes being identified. The ITM and Sciensano are calling on people to continue helping.
In winter, it’s important to regularly clean water butts, plant pots and guttering to remove any eggs that may be attached. From May, the beginning of the mosquito season, it is crucial to regularly empty standing water on terraces and in gardens.
Possible sightings of the insect can be reported via the citizen science platform MuggenSurveillance .