Record summer helps tiger mosquitoes establish in Carinthia

Tiger mosquitoes are becoming established in Carinthia after benefiting from warmer conditions, ORF reported, warning that their eggs can survive on garden items stored over winter.

The mosquito was first recorded in Carinthia in 2022 and is now believed to have settled in the region. It is native to tropical and subtropical forests in South and Southeast Asia and has spread worldwide through international travel and trade.

The Carinthian government advises people to check items before bringing them indoors for winter. Zoologist Laura Waldner said flowerpots, watering cans and rain barrels should be thoroughly cleaned to remove eggs from their rims, then dried before being stored in a cellar. The eggs are resistant to drying out.

Waldner said the species is unlikely to be eradicated and appears to have taken hold in Klagenfurt. A tiger mosquito can transmit dengue fever, but only after biting someone infected with the virus. Dengue can cause high fever, severe headaches and muscle, joint and bone pain, as well as a rash. One to five per cent of cases can be life-threatening, the report said.

Warmer winters and other climate changes benefit the mosquito. Insects are sensitive to temperature and moisture, making them indicators of climate change, ORF reported.

The report also discussed other introduced species. The marmorated stink bug can damage fruit, while the Asian lady beetle, introduced to control pests, has spread beyond greenhouses and also eats beneficial insects and other lady beetles. The zoologist said some introduced species, including the Nosferatu spider, have no known negative effects on the ecosystem.