The tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, a species capable of transmitting dengue and regarded as an Asian invasive, has extended its range across Spain. It is now present along the Mediterranean coast, in the northern regions, and in some inland areas of the peninsula, according to experts consulted by a news agency.
But this invasive species is not alone; the influence of other mosquito varieties is also spreading through European territory. Climate change, globalization, and freight movement facilitate the arrival of insects into new environments.
Entomologist Rubén Bueno, a PhD in biology, notes that the presence of tiger mosquitoes on the Iberian Peninsula was first documented in Catalonia. He says this species is now found in nearly all Spanish territories, with Galicia marking the latest sighting.
Bueno adds that Spain is also home to the Japan mosquito, Aedes japonicus, which can carry diseases such as Nile fever and chikungunya.
This species is present in almost all Spanish territories, with the recent discovery in Galicia.
In the wake of International Day against Dengue fever, an increasingly common disease in Europe, the general mosquito is described as capable of traveling long distances. The species was first detected in Spain in 2004.
Image accompanying the report shows a tiger mosquito, labeled by agencies.
Although major European epidemics have not occurred, recent reports note that Italy recorded domestic dengue cases not long ago, and Spain has seen cases transmitted by tiger mosquitoes in regions such as Catalonia and Murcia, according to authorities.
West Nile Virus
There are about a hundred mosquito species, including Culex pipes, that can transmit other tropical diseases such as West Nile virus. An elderly woman in Huelva recently died, a reminder of the disease’s potential impact in Europe in 2022.
The West Nile virus can affect birds, horses, and humans, with many infected animals showing no symptoms, a point highlighted by Bueno.
The tiger mosquito tends to bite during the day, unlike the common mosquito that bites at night. It is easy to distinguish by its black-and-white markings on the body.
The tiger mosquito is an urban dweller whose presence is favored by stagnant water, especially around ports, harbor areas, and similar sites. For this reason, reducing domestic water stagnation is seen as a key step to lowering bite risk and disease transmission.
Reducing water stagnation at home helps lower bite risk
Ruben Bueno emphasizes that tiger mosquitoes breed in street rainwater grids, underscoring the need for ongoing surveillance and public-space control programs.
Frederic Bartumeus, co-director of the Mosquito Alert mobile app and a researcher at the CSIC, notes that the tiger mosquito and the common mosquito follow two distinct zoonotic cycles, meaning diseases pass from animals to humans through these vectors.
Regarding the mosquito genus Aedes, the tiger and the Japanese mosquito can bite an infected person and transmit the infection to others. However, when West Nile virus reaches humans via a common mosquito, the dynamics often differ in public awareness and urgency.
Bartumeus explains that if an infected person is bitten by a healthy mosquito, the virus does not always spread due to reduced viral load in the mosquito.
Climate Change is Shaping Mosquito Behavior
Bartumeus explains that Mosquito Alert, launched in 2013, merges citizen reporting with traditional trapping to track species, breeding sites, and bites in specific spots. Climate change is a major driver of these shifts. Warmer temperatures do not simply create more mosquitoes; they alter their behavior and range.
As an example, he notes that climate change may push tiger mosquitoes to higher elevations, possibly appearing around 1,500 meters, as extreme heat dries out water and mosquitoes rely on moisture for survival.
Bartumeus highlights that tropical-disease carriers such as Aedes aegypti have repeatedly attempted to colonize regions like the Canary Islands, with successful eradication efforts in many cases due to effective management.
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