Are Mosquitoes in Ireland a Threat?

Wouter

Fortunately, Ireland has no malaria-carrying mosquitoes. However, we do have other types that may be a threat.

These include the Aedes species that are linked to the Zika virus, and the Culex pipiens mosquito. These are common in Ireland and the southern part of the country. They are mainly active during the day, but are also present during the night.

Aedes mosquitoes can carry a number of different diseases, including yellow fever, chikungunya, dengue, and West Nile virus. They have a predilection for biting humans and passing parasites onto them. They are especially dangerous in areas with standing water. They can cause birth defects in babies.

Aedes mosquitoes are commonly seen flying over lakes, streams, and other bodies of water in the late summer and early autumn. They are also present in marshy areas.

There are more than 50 types of mosquitoes in Ireland. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) monitors all these varieties.

The Asian tiger mosquito is a disease-carrying subtropical mosquito that has spread across Europe. It can survive in temperatures as low as five degrees centigrade. It arrived in Europe in 1979, and has since spread north and west. The mosquito has 136 reported sites in Ireland.

There are many different mosquitoes in Ireland, but they don’t cause any major outbreaks. The species need to bite to lay their eggs, and need mammal blood to do this.

The European hornet is a less aggressive version of the wasp. It defends its nest and may bite repeatedly.

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