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"The mosquito season usually starts in May when the outside temperatures rise," the Senate Department for Science, Health and Care and the Mitte district office announced.
The Senate Department advises, among other things, "consistent individual mosquito protection such as wearing long, light-colored and bite-resistant clothing" and, if necessary, the use of mosquito repellents.
Breeding sites for the tiger mosquitoes, for example, should also be avoided. Tiger mosquitoes usually breed in small, standing pools of water such as flower stands or watering cans. "It is therefore recommended to check balconies and gardens for possible breeding sites and either remove them, cover them or clean them regularly." According to the information provided, the tiger mosquito is not a native species, but has also been established in Berlin since 2021. There is a risk "that it could pick up dengue, chikungunya or Zika viruses when biting infected travelers returning home and spread them via further bites". The risk of transmission to humans has so far been assessed as low.
Anyone who suspects that they have caught an Asian tiger mosquito can send it to the Central Health Department or send photos by email. The animals are reportedly smaller than a one-cent coin, have a black body, a striking white pattern, five white rings on the back pair of legs and a white longitudinal stripe on the front back. If you catch such a specimen without crushing it, you should freeze it overnight and send it in a small container as soon as possible.
"Of the 50 or so species of mosquito found in Germany, most do not pose a health risk to humans, but have a high ecological benefit," it said. However, some species can transmit pathogens. One example of this is the northern house mosquito, one of the most common native species, which can transmit the West Nile virus.