Mosquito plague on the Upper Rhine: Jäger rely on organic weapons against snacks!

Mosquito plague on the Upper Rhine: Jäger rely on organic weapons against snacks!

In the past few weeks, heavy rains in Baden-Württemberg have caused uncomfortable surprises. The precipitation not only transformed the landscape, but also created the ideal environment for the formation of larvae of mosquitoes. As the Tagesschau are reported in three federal countries to use To become a plague. There was a mass slip of the little pests in particular on the Upper Rhine.

The conditions for the Auwald mosquitos could hardly be better. Flood events such as recently promote their development considerably. After a dry spring, flooded sinks and floodplains provided ideal breeding grounds. No less than 100 to 200 larvae per liter were detected in the affected areas.

The control strategy

The municipal campaign community to combat the schnaken plague (KABS) has already actively taken measures before Pentecost. The biological active ingredient BTI (Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis) was used, which effectively acts against the larvae without unnecessarily burdening the environment. Smaller areas in the Rhine meadows were treated on foot, while larger areas were sprayed with the ice granulate by helicopter.

The focus of the control campaigns were in the Rastatt area and in the southern Palatinate. The first measures were also implemented north of Karlsruhe on Wednesday after Pentecost, and a day later, similar missions followed in Hesse. The first rehearsals show promising successes, and the situation in the affected Au forests has already relaxed.

ecological considerations

But in the shade of these control measures there is also an important discussion about the ecological effects. According to the BUND nature conservation , mosquitoes are not only annoying, but also play a significant role in the ecosystem. Larvae serve as food for fish, while adult mosquitoes fuck and serve as a source of food. A comprehensive control could thus endanger the natural communities.

In addition, the use of BTI is viewed critically. Although BTI specifically attacks mosquito larvae, the application could also have negative effects on other insects and amphibians. The use of folds for combating could also reduce the food base for many animals during the reproduction period. The federal government therefore does not require a BTI application in nature reserves and protected biotopes.

social responsibility

The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has increasingly received inquiries about larvicides and emphasizes how important it is to clarify the population about the effects of mosquito bites and possible disease transmissions. Fortunately, while Asian tiger mosquitoes can transmit viruses in Germany, no autochthonous illnesses have occurred, but there have been some cases of western Nile virus transmitted by domestic mosquitoes since 2019.

This can make sense to combat mosquitoes if it is carried out correctly and sustainably. The UBA informs that small -scale applications from BTI do not expect any negative environmental impacts as long as they are applied correctly. However, alternative measures such as reducing breeding sites and the promotion of natural predators are just as important.