Animal species of health interest

How to recognize the tiger mosquito

The tiger mosquito is small (5 to 7 mm). It has a black body spotted with white and white and black rings on its legs, hence the name tiger. Its distinctive appearance makes it easy to distinguish from local urban mosquitoes. The tiger mosquito flies rather poorly and bites more on the legs.

A nuisance mosquito, why?

It can transmit some twenty viruses to humans, including dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika, tropical arboviroses that are constantly on the rise worldwide:

• Dengue fever manifests itself as a sudden onset of fever accompanied by musculo-articular pain, aches and pains, pain behind the eyes, headaches....;
• Chikungunya by a sudden high fever associated with disabling joint pain, joint swelling, skin manifestations (rash);
• Zika by a rash, moderate fever, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise and headaches.

Contact your doctor if any of these symptoms appear.

Each year, a reinforced surveillance scheme is implemented by health authorities and their partners from May 1 to November 30.

How to protect yourself from it:

The tiger mosquito travels within a radius of 50 to 200 m of its birthplace and lays its eggs in water-filled containers. To avoid having tiger mosquitoes in your home, it's therefore important to remove potential egg-laying sites (the eggs then turn into larvae).

To do this:

• Don't leave containers that could fill up with rainwater outside,
• Maintain your home's gutters,
• Empty flowerpot saucers regularly,
• Cover water reserves (such as rainwater collectors) with a sheet or mosquito netting,
• If possible, don't leave plant waste lying around on the ground in your garden,
• To protect yourself from tiger mosquito bites, wear long, loose clothing impregnated with fabric insecticides and apply skin repellents to your skin, as this mosquito is mainly active during the day,
• Prefer tropical repellents based on DEET, IR3535, Icaridine or Citriodiol to keep tiger mosquitoes away.

Mosquito vector control measures

Since the decree of No. 2019-258 of March 29, 2019 on the prevention of vector-borne diseases, surveillance and control actions against insect-borne diseases has been entrusted to the Regional Health Agencies (ARS). This covers, in particular, vector surveillance actions and intervention around new settlements, as well as survey and treatment measures (anti-vectorial control) around places frequented by people carrying dengue, chikungunya or Zika viruses in order to limit the spread of these diseases.

The ARS Occitanie has entrusted the implementation of these measures to Altopictus, a private organization accredited for this type of intervention.

The EID Méditerranée - Mosquitoes or no mosquitoes?

There is the reality of the nuisance and the perception of the nuisance. Both must be taken into account, justify a diagnosis in the field and, in the case of mosquitoes, lead to treatment. This is the role of EID Méditerranée (Entente interdépartementale pour la démoustication).

To this end, EID is maintaining its system at the service of the public, via an "Indigo" telephone number: 0 825 399 110 (€0.15 incl. tax/minute). A contact person is available on working days and hours (answering machine outside these periods), to take requests.

From the description of the problem, either an explanation and advice can be given immediately over the phone, or the situation will require a technical examination and on-site intervention, which will be carried out within a maximum of 24 hours.

An appointment will be proposed at the time of the call. And if a user calls outside business hours and leaves his contact details on the answering machine, EID will call him back within the next half-day.

EID Méditerranée is a public service, an operator for local authorities. Its interventions are therefore free of charge.

The contraceptive pigeon loft

Pigeons are an integral part of urban wildlife. However, the city of Montpellier regulates these animals to avoid uncontrolled reproduction, which could become a source of inconvenience.

In order to reconcile improving the living environment of residents with respect for animal welfare, the city of Montpellier has opted for a gentle method of regulation, namely the installation of contraceptive pigeon lofts.

What is a contraceptive pigeon loft?

It's a wooden shelter placed a few meters above ground level, regularly maintained, in which pigeons can nest and lay their eggs. During each maintenance visit to the loft, newly laid eggs are manually shaken to prevent them from hatching.

This method presents 3 major interests:

• Limiting nuisance, particularly associated with droppings, by reducing nesting on surrounding buildings,
• Regulating population levels by sterilizing eggs,
• Maintaining a healthy state of pigeon populations through regular loft maintenance.

It is also designed as an educational tool to encourage cohabitation between residents and urban wildlife. Since the installation of the first contraceptive pigeon loft on the Charles-de-Gaulle esplanade in 2003, two others have been set up in the Tastavin and Edouard André parks, and new sites are currently being studied.

The processionary caterpillar is an insect pest of pine trees, stinging to humans and animals due to its hairs.

Treatment carried out

The City's Green Spaces Department carries out Bacillus-based treatments in autumn on areas such as Lunaret, Montmaur, Lac des Garrigues by helicopter. Treatment is also carried out from the ground in schools and nurseries.

As soon as the nests are formed (early in the year), they are removed (weeded).

Evolutionary cycle

In April/May, the caterpillars leave their winter nests, travel down the trunks in procession, covering several meters of ground and penetrating the soil. There, they undergo metamorphosis and emerge as butterflies at the end of June/beginning of July.

Risks for humans and animals

These caterpillars have microscopic stinging hairs which they release at the slightest alert in the wind. These hairs attach themselves to the ground, clothing, skin, nasal cavities and the mouth, acting like nettle stings. Allergic people, children and the elderly are the most vulnerable. The tongue can swell and make breathing difficult. Dogs whose noses are always on the ground may be affected. Consult a doctor at the slightest alert from October to May.

Accidents caused by contact with the stinging bristles of pine processionary caterpillars are a seasonal pathology well known to doctors and in veterinary medicine.

Elimination procedures

During April, you're likely to discover colonies of caterpillars leaving the trees to burrow underground. Don't approach them and let them bury themselves: this is the best way for them to take their stinging hairs with them.

• Delicate mechanical weeding (i.e. without throwing the cocoons to the ground even if they are empty, as they contain stinging bristles).
• Avoid insecticides that pollute the environment for a long time with the death of caterpillars that release myriads of invisible stinging bristles.
• Avoid burning them at all costs as the bristles are put in suspension (inflammation of the respiratory system).