Alien and potentially invasive mosquito species are potential vectors of a variety of pathogens and therefore pose a threat to public health. This project enables new populations of these species to be recognised at an early stage, allowing countermeasures to be taken in good time and the development of existing populations to be monitored. Furthermore, the data obtained can be used to record spatial and temporal changes in the occurrence of alien mosquito species thanks to the standardised method used throughout Austria.
The distribution of the tiger mosquito(Ae. albopictus) in Austria in 2024 was similar to the two previous years. This species is already established, particularly in parts of Vienna and Graz, but now also in parts of Linz, where it occurs in large numbers. However, as can (also) be seen from the Mosquito Alert data, the spatial spread of the tiger mosquito in these three cities has increased significantly compared to 2023. It is therefore urgently recommended that intensive monitoring and countermeasures involving the population (continue to) take place in these areas in order to try to prevent the population from growing further and ideally to decimate it and also to prevent or at least slow down its further spread.
At locations where the tiger mosquito has only occurred sporadically so far, care should be taken to ensure that these locations continue to be monitored. In addition, action plans to combat this species should be drawn up in advance so that if the tiger mosquito is repeatedly found, it can be combated quickly. The frequent findings at motorway service stations confirm the relevance of the spread via road traffic. In order to prevent further spread from these motorway service areas, care must be taken to ensure that the Asian tiger mosquito does not find any possible breeding grounds.
The Japanese bush mosquito(Ae. japonicus) can now be found in all of Austria's federal states and is particularly widespread in the south. This species will no longer be eradicated in Austria.
The Korean bush mosquito(Ae. koreicus) has only been found sporadically so far and could not be detected at all in 2024. Due to its very similar climatic requirements, this species could presumably spread even further in Austria.