The Tiger Mosquito – Small, Stripy and Seriously Annoying!

The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), or moustique tigre, is now well established throughout much of southern France, including the Pyrénées-Orientales. Originally from Southeast Asia, it has spread across Europe over the past few decades, helped by international trade, travel and a warming climate. It has gradually expanded its range northwards and is now found in many parts of France and several neighbouring countries.

Unlike the familiar buzzing mosquito that waits until dusk, the tiger mosquito is active throughout the day, particularly in the early morning and late afternoon. It is small, black with distinctive white stripes on its legs and body, making it easy to recognise. Despite its size, its bite often feels sharper and more irritating than that of the common mosquito.

The good news is that, although tiger mosquitoes are capable of carrying viruses such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika, the risk of catching these diseases in France remains very low. Cases that do occur are usually linked to travellers returning from affected countries, although occasional local transmission has been recorded. For most of us, the biggest problem is simply an intensely itchy bite.

Why do mosquitoes bite?

Only female mosquitoes bite. They need the protein in blood to produce their eggs. Males, by contrast, are perfectly harmless and survive on nectar.

Female mosquitoes are remarkable little hunters. They can detect carbon dioxide from your breath, body heat, movement and the chemicals released through your skin, including lactic acid. Once they land, they use a fine feeding tube called a proboscis to pierce the skin. As they feed, they inject saliva containing anticoagulants to keep the blood flowing. It is this saliva that triggers the itchy red lump, as your immune system reacts to the foreign proteins.

Are some people mosquito magnets?

Unfortunately, yes.

Research shows that mosquitoes are genuinely more attracted to some people than others. Body chemistry, genetics, body temperature, pregnancy, exercise and even the bacteria living naturally on our skin all play a part. People who exhale more carbon dioxide, such as taller adults, also tend to attract more mosquitoes.

There is some evidence that people with blood group O are bitten more often than those with other blood groups. Drinking alcohol may also increase your attractiveness to mosquitoes. However, despite countless claims over the years, there is no convincing scientific evidence that eating garlic, taking brewer’s yeast, vitamin B supplements or drinking tonic water will keep them away.

Keeping Monsieur Mozzie at bay

The most effective way to reduce tiger mosquitoes is to stop them breeding.

They only need a tiny amount of standing water to lay their eggs, so regularly empty or cover anything that collects rainwater, including plant saucers, buckets, watering cans, children’s toys and clogged gutters. Even a bottle top full of water is enough for larvae to develop.

You can also reduce your chances of being bitten by:

• Wearing loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing.
• Using an insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin (icaridin) or IR3535, following the instructions carefully, especially for children.
• Fitting mosquito screens to windows and doors where possible.
• Using a fan outdoors or on a terrace – mosquitoes are surprisingly poor fliers.
• Avoiding heavily scented perfumes and lotions if mosquitoes seem particularly attracted to you.

Citronella candles may help a little in sheltered areas, but don’t expect miracles, especially if there’s even the slightest breeze.

Readers’ Tips (Scientific accuracy not guaranteed!)

Over the years readers have shared dozens of ingenious, imaginative and occasionally bonkers mosquito remedies. Some may soothe a bite, some smell lovely, and some simply make us laugh.

• Bathe in gin and tonic – preferably heavy on the tonic. (Whether it helps the mosquitoes is debatable, but it may improve your mood.)
• Eat Marmite by the spoonful or take brewer’s yeast tablets. Many swear by it, although science remains unconvinced.
• Rub garlic-infused cider vinegar over your feet, legs, armpits and groin. The mosquitoes may stay away. So may everyone else.
• Leave a chunk of wonderfully pongy Limburger cheese in the bedroom. Apparently mosquitoes find it confusing. Your family might too.
• Stick cloves into half a lemon. It makes the house smell delightful and may discourage a few flies, if not determined mosquitoes.
• Pure lavender essential oil or chilled aloe vera gel can feel wonderfully soothing on itchy bites.
• Gently pressing the back of a warm (not scalding) spoon onto a fresh bite often relieves the itching for many people.
• A dab of lip balm? Plenty of readers still swear by it.
• Rub a little saliva on the bite. It’s free, always available and whether it works or not…well, you’ll have to judge for yourself.

And finally…

The ultimate mosquito trap?

Put a cow in your garden!

Cows produce plenty of heat, carbon dioxide and natural odours that mosquitoes find irresistible. Admittedly, this is probably not a practical solution unless you happen to have a very large garden, understanding neighbours and a forgiving lawn.

Still, it’s one way of making sure you’re no longer the tastiest thing on the menu.

A P-O Mosquito Called Bert

A P-O mosquito called Bert
Honed his sting till it stood up quite pert.
Then he dived for the kill,
Drank blood to his fill,
Before buzzing off, thoroughly alert!