The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) has settled in the south-east and Kostheim districts of Wiesbaden and now also finds optimal conditions in Germany, such as mild temperatures, for a suitable habitat. It is considered extremely aggressive, can become a plague and, under certain conditions, can transmit pathogens such as the dengue, Zika, chikungunya and West Nile viruses to humans. The tiger mosquito does not naturally carry the pathogens, but must first bite an infected person. The risk of infection in Germany is currently low due to the low spread of the pathogens. Without countermeasures, the tiger mosquito can multiply rapidly in warm summer months and become a massive nuisance.

The state capital of Wiesbaden has commissioned KABS e.V. to combat the tiger mosquito population. Thanks to regular inspections and comprehensive advice from KABS e.V., the tiger mosquito population in the south-east district has already been significantly reduced in recent years.

A one-off inspection of all affected private properties in the Kostheim district is planned for the 2025 tiger mosquito season. Citizens will receive comprehensive advice from KABS e.V. employees. Property owners will be informed of the planned control measures in advance by means of a direct mailing. The on-site appointment is free of charge and usually lasts ten to 15 minutes. In addition, accompanying trap monitoring is carried out to control the spread in Kostheim - depending on the number of tiger mosquitoes found, this can also be extended to the south-east district.

In addition to the measures taken by the city, it is very important for the population to act on their own responsibility so that the tiger mosquito cannot establish itself further and nuisance is kept to a minimum.

The most effective measure to combat the Asian tiger mosquito is to avoid or eliminate breeding opportunities. Tiger mosquitoes develop within a week in water-filled containers (e.g. rain barrels, planters, coasters, watering cans, animal troughs). Yard gullies, blocked and/or sagging gutters and hollow fence posts are also ideal breeding grounds. If a tiger mosquito is sighted, the breeding site is on your own or the neighbor's property, as the tiger mosquito only flies a few hundred meters.

The following measures should be taken regularly from April to October:

- Avoid water accumulation: Store containers in such a way that no water remains in them;

- Empty containers completely at least once a week;

- Close water containers such as rain barrels with a close-meshed net and elastic band to prevent mosquitoes from entering.

If these measures cannot be implemented for all breeding sites, the remaining breeding sites can be treated with Bti tablets every 14 days. The active ingredient only kills mosquito larvae, but is harmless to other insect groups such as bees as well as pets, hedgehogs, birds and humans. The tablets are available free of charge from the town hall and from most local authorities such as Biebrich, Dotzheim, Kastel/Kostheim, Schierstein and the Wiesbaden Environmental Shop.

If, despite all the measures taken, tiger mosquitoes continue to cause a considerable nuisance, affected citizens can contact KABS e.V. directly:

- E-mail: termine-tigermueckekabs-gfsde (subject: Wiesbaden);

- Online form: www.kabsev.de/kontakt-tigermuecke.

A specialist will then make contact and arrange an on-site appointment. Ideally, neighbors will also attend this appointment.

In view of the increasing spread of the tiger mosquito, centralized measures alone are no longer sufficient. Active help from the public is therefore essential. Early information and reports of suspected cases from the public make a significant contribution to quickly identifying new areas of spread.

Extensive information on the Asian tiger mosquito can be found on the homepage www.kabsev.de.

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